Why Employees Don't Fully Appreciate Rewards, And What HR Leaders Can Do About It

This blog post was written by our friends at ElektraFi as a guest post.

Are company rewards and making sure your employees are well-motivated on your mind? Companies are investing more than ever in employee rewards — from base pay and bonuses to equity, perks, and flexible benefits. Yet despite these efforts, many employees still report feeling undervalued or unsure about what they're actually receiving. This disconnect isn’t always about the quantity of rewards — it’s often about the clarity of them. 

The Current State of Benefits & Rewards 

Today’s employee rewards packages typically include a mix of base salary, annual bonuses, health and dental benefits, retirement contributions, and paid time off. But as workforce expectations evolve, so too are the ways companies show value to their people. More employers are expanding beyond traditional offerings to include flexible work schedules, mental health support, and personalized perks tailored to individual interests or life stages.  

Innovative approaches are also emerging — like Block Rewards’ Bitcoin savings plan, which allows employees to receive part of their compensation in digital assets. These new models reflect a growing shift toward diversification and personalization in total rewards — but without clear communication, even the most exciting benefits can go unnoticed or underappreciated. 

The Real Problem: Lack of Transparency and Communication 

Employees often don’t fully appreciate their total compensation because they simply don’t understand it. Many organizations fail to clearly communicate the full picture of what they're offering, leading employees to underestimate the value of their package. 

Common reports from real employees include: 

• Unclear equity and bonus structures: Many employees don’t know how their stock options work, what triggers a bonus payout, or what performance metrics matter most. 
  

• Fragmented information: Compensation, benefits, and perks are often explained in different documents, platforms, or conversations — leaving employees to piece things together. 
  

• Lack of context: Employees rarely see how their compensation compares to market benchmarks or internal ranges, which can lead to unnecessary distrust or disengagement. 
  

• Missed opportunities for impact: Even generous or well-designed rewards go unnoticed when they're not properly explained or reinforced throughout the year. 

The result? Teams that feel undervalued, employees who leave for "better offers" that aren’t actually better, and HR leaders constantly playing defense. Put simply, you could have the best compensation and rewards package in your entire industry, but if no-one knows about it or understands it, it’s a complete waste of time and money. 

The Answer: Bring Clarity to Total Compensation & Rewards 

The key isn’t always to give more — it’s to make what you’re already offering clearer and more meaningful. That starts with giving employees a transparent, accessible view of their Total Compensation and Rewards (TC&R). 

A strong TC&R strategy includes: 

• Total compensation statements that break down salary, bonuses, equity, benefits, and perks in a single, easy-to-understand format. 
  

• Visual tools that show how compensation grows over time or in response to performance. 
  

• Market context so employees can see how their package compares externally and internally. 
  

• Personalized communication that aligns rewards with career stage, role, and values. 

Total Comp & Rewards Platforms Are Filling The Gap 

As the complexity of compensation increases, more companies are turning to dedicated total rewards platforms to bridge the communication gap. These tools centralize and visualize all elements of an employee’s pay and benefits, making it easy to see the full value of what’s being offered.  

Platforms like ElektraFi go beyond static statements by delivering interactive, personalized dashboards that show salary, bonuses, equity, benefits, and more — all in one place. This level of clarity not only builds trust but also empowers employees to fully understand and appreciate their total rewards. 

Final Thoughts 

Employees want to feel valued — but value is only felt when it's understood. By improving how you communicate compensation and rewards, you can boost trust, increase retention, and make your investment in people work harder. It's not just what you give, it's how clearly you show it.