How do I set up a Variable Rate Allowance?
Variable Rate Allowances let Admins assign different monthly point values to different user groups based on custom rules, such as Department, Office Location, or Employee Type. This flexible setup is ideal for organizations with diverse recognition needs or global teams.
To learn how to access the allowance settings page, see our Peer-to-Peer and Manager Allowance Basics article.
What is a Variable Rate Allowance?
Points are assigned based on rules you define, rather than a single flat value for all users.
Each rule acts as a filter—users matching a rule will receive the points specified in that rule.
If a user matches multiple rules, they will receive the points from the first matching rule in the list.
How to Navigate to Variable Rate Allowance Settings
Go to Workspace Settings > Allowances & Values
Under either Peer-to-Peer Allowance or Manager Allowance, select Variable Rate Allowance
Click Edit Variable Allowance
Creating and Managing Rules
Each rule defines which users should receive a specific monthly point amount. Rules are based on custom properties you’ve configured in your account.
What each rule requires:
Rule Name
Examples: “All Full-Time Employees”, “Contractors”, “New York Team”Matching Logic
Choose whether users must match:All criteria (e.g., must be in Atlanta and a Contractor)
Any criteria (e.g., in Atlanta or a Contractor)
Filter Criteria
These are based on your workspace’s Properties. Common examples include, but are not limited to:Department
Office Location
Employee Type (e.g., Full-Time, Contractor)
Need to create additional custom properties? See our article on Custom Properties.
Point Amount to Assign
Enter the number of points users in this group should receive.
(Reminder: 10 points = $1 USD)
Set a Default Budget for Everyone Else
After setting up your specific rules, you'll also need to assign points for any users who don’t meet the criteria in your existing rules. By default, there will be a section labeled “All Other Employees.”
This acts as a catch-all rule for anyone not matched by the filters above.
Be sure to specify how many points these users should receive each month to ensure no one is left out.
If left at zero, users not included in the earlier rules will not receive any Points to Give.
Additional Tips
You can add multiple rules to account for different groups across your organization.
Use drag-and-drop to reorder rules. Nectar applies rules in order from top to bottom, stopping once a match is found.
Use clear rule names to keep your allowance logic easy to manage over time.
User Point Preview
Once your rules are configured, use the User Point Preview to test and confirm how your settings apply.
Click the Generate button to view a full list of users and the rule each one matches.
Use filters to view:
Only users who meet rule criteria
Users in the "All Other Employees" group
You can also download the preview list for record-keeping or planning purposes.
This is a great way to verify that your setup is working as expected before saving and applying changes.
When Do Changes Take Effect?
Mid-month updates apply on the 1st of the next reset month. See the point allowances page for your next scheduled point reset date.
Pre-launch updates apply immediately for users once they sign into Nectar for the first time.