More often than not in the target based industry, employees will beg, borrow and steal to meet their monthly targets in the hope they can get a bit of extra money in their pay-packet that month.
However, one South Wales firm has taken a different approach by offering its staff a range of activities and away days if targets are hit - paid for by the directors.
Work Wales, one of Wales' fastest growing independent recruitment agencies with a reputation for the highest levels of professionalism, has a very low turnover of staff. Directors Christina Allen and Sophie Turner believe their unusual approach to incentivising staff is behind this.
The staff regularly spend time bonding thanks to a range of activities organised because of this scheme. Most recently, the company treated all of employees to a day of go-karting - an activity chosen by the staff.
Commenting on the incentive, Sophie Turner, co-director of Work Wales, commented:
"Since we have implemented the target board system, we have noticed our staff work a lot harder, and when they hit a target, there is a lot of discussion between them on what kind of day out they will have.
"A couple of weeks ago, we took them go-karting and we will soon be going on a spa day. It's been great because the team really work together now instead of focusing on their own incentives."
Christina Allen, co-director of Work Wales, added:
"We have both worked under a number of different schemes designed to incentivise staff and this certainly seems to be working well on many levels. Not only does it push employees to hit targets, it also creates a very good working environment in which there is also a great team ethos throughout the company."
Some HR specialists agree that such tactics can work when it comes to motivating a workforce. Adrian Lewis, commercial director of Activ Absence, a staff annual leave planning and absence management software solution, said:
"A lot of businesses who have monetary incentives will always have one person who works harder or who has more money, because it is very much a culture of making things better for yourself. Whereas this group incentive approach shown by Work Wales is beneficial for staff and the business.
"This system not only encourages the staff to work as a team, which lowers the chances of them leaving the company, but it is also more likely that they will bring in more business, which in turn means more money for the company. It is a win-win situation."
Established in 2008, Work Wales is a leader in the recruitment industry in South Wales. With offices in Swansea, Cardiff and Llanelli, the company offers a flexible and modern approach to recruitment.
The co-directors founded the company on the values of passion, honesty and integrity and they say they constantly strive to achieve these ideals across every aspect of the business. They endeavour to build and nurture long-lasting relationships with clients and candidates alike, taking time to really get to know people and their businesses.
