Sam Lepak

Sam Lepak is Head of Growth at Matter, where he spends most of his time talking with the HR leaders, people managers, and founders Matter serves. He writes about recognition, rewards, and employee feedback through that lens — less theory, more what actually works in the teams he talks to each week.
Employee Feedback
Why Remote Teams Struggle Without Feedback Loops [2026 Guide]
Discover why remote teams struggle without strong feedback loops and how building continuous feedback improves communication, alignment, and performance.
Sam Lepak
May 23, 2026
4 Min Read
Leadership
3 Mindsets to be Aware of When Welcoming New Employees
Discover common mindsets that can make new employees feel unwelcome and how to create a more inclusive, respectful workplace from their first day of work.
Sam Lepak
Jun 3, 2026
3 Min Read
Employee Recognition
HR AI: Using Tech for Personalized Incentives & Recognition
Discover how AI is transforming HR with personalized incentives and recognition programs—enhancing engagement, fairness, and remote team support.
Sam Lepak
May 23, 2026
2 Min Read
Employee Rewards
63+ Office Fitness Challenges for Every Workplace in 2026
Transform your workplace with office fitness challenges. Discover fun office fitness challenges and ideas that boost health, morale, and team productivity.
Sam Lepak
May 23, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
57+ Proven Office Exercise Challenges [2026 Guide & Ideas]
Revolutionize your workplace with 57 office exercise challenges. From fun fitness challenges to physical activity challenges at work that boost health and productivity.
Sam Lepak
May 23, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
45+ Office Wellness Challenges for a Healthier Team in 2026
Transform your workplace with 45 office wellness challenges. Discover health and wellness office challenges, monthly programs, and fun activities that work.
Sam Lepak
May 29, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
41+ Workplace Fitness Challenges That Motivate [2026 Guide]
Discover top workplace fitness challenges and wellness ideas. From fun fitness challenges to office fitness challenges that boost team health and engagement.
Sam Lepak
May 29, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
6 Tips to Reward Employees for Successfully Averting Crises
Rewarding employees who successfully avert crises can boost their morale and job engagement. These tips can help leaders reward workers meaningfully.
Sam Lepak
May 21, 2026
3 Min Read
Employee Rewards
Customizing Rewards to the Personality of Employees in 2026
Customizing employee rewards to their personality can make them more impactful. Here are guidelines to reward risk-takers, work-life balance-seekers, and more.
Sam Lepak
May 21, 2026
3 Min Read
Employee Rewards
31 Workplace Wellness Challenges That Drive Results in 2026
Discover 31 workplace wellness challenges ideas that boost employee engagement. From health and wellness challenges to quick activities that transform workplace culture.
Sam Lepak
Jun 2, 2026
7 Min Read
Employee Rewards
201+ Fun Team Challenges to Energize Workplaces [2026 Ideas]
Discover 200+ fun team challenges that boost morale and collaboration. From fun team-building games to activities for small and large groups that deliver results.
Sam Lepak
Jun 3, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
How to Handle Team Challenges [2026 Guide with 25+ Ways]
Learn how to handle team challenges effectively with 25 proven strategies. Discover common team challenges, examples, and solutions for teams.
Sam Lepak
Jun 2, 2026
7 Min Read
Employee Rewards
19+ Best Employee Incentive Plan Examples for Team Growth
Explore 15 employee incentive plan examples designed to boost morale, improve retention, and increase performance across all types of workplaces.
Sam Lepak
Jun 2, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
39+ Work Incentives Examples That Motivate Employees in 2026
Discover work incentives examples, ideas, and strategies that help boost motivation, retention, and performance across any workplace or team.
Sam Lepak
Jun 7, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
31+ Best Company Incentive Programs for Growth [2026 Guide]
Explore the best company incentive programs, plans, and software to motivate employees and boost business performance through meaningful rewards.
Sam Lepak
May 23, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Feedback
Turning Employee Feedback Into Real-Time Action [2026 Guide]
Learn how to turn employee feedback into real-time action that improves engagement, drives performance, and builds a culture of continuous improvement.
Sam Lepak
May 29, 2026
2 Min Read
Employee Rewards
25+ Best Work Incentives Ideas to Motivate Employees in 2026
Explore fun work incentives ideas for employees and discover free, creative, and effective workplace incentive ideas to boost morale and performance.
Sam Lepak
May 29, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
17+ Best Employee Wellness Incentive Programs Ideas in 2026
Discover employee wellness incentive programs with real examples, health strategies, and benefits that improve engagement, retention, and workplace well-being.
Sam Lepak
May 29, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
29 Best Staff Incentive Ideas for Team Building [2026 Guide]
Discover the best staff incentive ideas, including programs, rewards, and recognition strategies to boost employee engagement and performance.
Sam Lepak
May 27, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
23+ Best Employee Incentive Awards and Ideas [2026 Guide]
Discover employee incentive awards and recognition ideas that boost morale, enhance productivity, and strengthen retention across your organization.
Sam Lepak
May 27, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Recognition
Big Thanks Impact: Psychology Behind Workplace Appreciation
Discover how simple acts of gratitude boost morale, improve performance, and transform team dynamics through the powerful psychology of workplace appreciation.
Sam Lepak
May 27, 2026
3 Min Read
Employee Recognition
Recognition Letters: 8 Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Don’t undermine your recognition letters by unknowingly falling into one of these eight common pitfalls, as broken down by professional writers.
Sam Lepak
May 27, 2026
3 Min Read
Employee Rewards
33+ Best Incentives for Sales Ideas for Teams: 2026 Guide
Discover incentives for sales that include ideas, examples, templates, and tools to boost motivation, drive performance, and recognize achievements.
Sam Lepak
May 27, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
39+ Sales Incentive Programs Examples That Work [2026 Guide]
Discover 15+ sales incentive program examples that boost performance, motivate sales teams, and reward results with proven recognition strategies.
Sam Lepak
May 27, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
39+ Best Sales Incentive Ideas for Teams [2026 Guide]
Explore the best sales incentive ideas for teams and customers, including fun, creative, and proven strategies that boost motivation and results.
Sam Lepak
Jun 7, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Rewards
79 Employee Incentive Gifts and Recognition [2026 Guide]
Discover 79 employee incentive gifts and recognition gift ideas to boost morale, reward achievements, and celebrate service milestones with impact.
Sam Lepak
May 29, 2026
6 Min Read
Productivity
Boost Engagement in 2026: Tips for Remote Celebrations
Discover fun and effective tips for remote celebrations that boost morale, build connection, and make distributed teams feel valued and included.
Sam Lepak
May 21, 2026
2 Min Read
Employee Recognition
30 Free Kudos Cards Template Ideas for Employees in 2026
Download ready-to-use kudos cards template ideas or create your own. Explore printable, digital, and free options to celebrate employee wins with ease.
Sam Lepak
May 23, 2026
3 Min Read
Employee Recognition
35 Employee Kudos Template [2026 Examples for Recognition]
Use these employee kudos template examples to recognize and celebrate your team. Get email, certificate, and appreciation message templates that make an impact.
Sam Lepak
Jun 2, 2026
7 Min Read
Employee Recognition
25 Best Kudos Template for Work Examples for Recognition
Use these kudos template for work examples to recognize teammates with ease. Learn how to give kudos to coworkers, write emails, and share authentic praise.
Sam Lepak
May 27, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Recognition
17 Free Kudos Board Examples & Ideas for 2026
Explore the best free kudos board platforms to recognize employees. Find free online kudos board tools, templates, and virtual appreciation ideas for teams.
Sam Lepak
May 11, 2026
4 Min Read
Employee Recognition
30+ Ways Kudos Employee Engagement Improves Performance
Discover how kudos employee engagement and recognition software strengthen culture. Learn why employee kudos matter and explore real-world examples and quotes.
Sam Lepak
May 21, 2026
5 Min Read
Employee Recognition
15+ Kudos Template Ideas to Recognize Employees in 2026
Looking for the perfect kudos template? Find editable kudos templates for cards, emails, and awards—plus examples of kudos for coworkers you can use today.
Sam Lepak
May 27, 2026
4 Min Read
Employee Recognition
27+ Creative Ways to Use Kudos Cards for Staff Recognition
Discover how to use kudos cards to recognize your team. Find kudos cards for employees, templates, and free printable recognition cards to boost engagement.
Sam Lepak
Jun 7, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Recognition
53 Ideas for Another Word for Kudos in the Workplace in 2026
Looking for another word for kudos? Discover the best alternatives for kudos to you, praise, and congratulations to keep your recognition fresh and meaningful.
Sam Lepak
Jun 7, 2026
5 Min Read
Employee Recognition
19 Ways to Use Kudos Rewards to Boost Employee Recognition
Discover how to use kudos rewards to motivate your team. Explore the Kudos rewards app, marketplace features, and how Kudos employee recognition creates impact.
Sam Lepak
May 26, 2026
7 Min Read