How Performance Marketing Works [+ 6 Tools You Can Use] A lot of companies have employee referral programs. The concept is simple: If you refer someone who ends up getting hired, you earn a reward (typically a cash bonus). It's a win-win – HR gets qualified candidates while employees feel motivated to assist in the search process. The caveat we often see is that if the employee leaves the company within a certain window, the reward is null and void. Why give out a commission if the company won't see a return on their investment? This is the same principle behind performance marketing.