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Happy Employees are Productive Employees

Internet based companies have contests all the time for their clients and users. However, generally speaking, employees of these companies do not get to reap the benefits of winning these contests. One internet firm has decided to motivate its employees by offering money and prizes. Go Daddy, the No. 1 registrar of domain names worldwide, both in terms of new daily registrations and domains under management, is rewarding its work force with unheard of financial incentives. This year, Go Daddy has given away $750,000 to its employees in rewards, bonuses and prizes over and above salaries and wages.

"Go Daddy gives money away all the time. We do it with contests on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. A happy employee is a productive employee, no doubt about it," said Bob Parsons, Go Daddy founder and president. "Giving more than people expect is one of my favorite parts of the job". Parsons is known for his generosity. He typically ratchets up prizes as he is announcing contest parameters to employees. During the traditional shopping month of December, Go Daddy created a contest rewarding top performers in its Scottsdale and Gilbert Call Centers with a shopping spree. At the last minute, Parsons nearly doubled the prize amount.

Last week, Go Daddy gave away thousands of dollars to its employees at their annual holiday party. Giveaways included cash prizes up to $10,000, plasma TVs and dozens of other gifts. Once again, Parsons went above and beyond the planned gift budget. Parsons has made a habit of rewarding employees with incredible incentives, with giveaways like a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and mortgage payments for a year. All incentive rewards at Go Daddy are given with the taxes paid, so that the employee gets its full value.