Rewards

There is a juvenile system for rewarding elves for good work. It is similar to the Gold Star system from Kindergarten. If an elf does something well, or something deserving of recognition, they receive a button. These buttons are put on the elf's hat, and different buttons represent different achievements. Wearing the buttons on the hat allows for public recognition of excellent work, along with giving the elf a physical reward.

Is this childish? Yes. Does Shortcake get excited every time she gets a button? Yes. Does she strive to earn more of them? Would she work just as hard were she not to receive buttons because she has a strong work ethic? Yes. It doesn't matter that Shortcake knows these buttons are manipulative and based on a juvenile reward system. She is proud of the FOUR buttons she has earned:

Pace - for working in the village on a busy day and keeping the line moving
Multi-Tasking - for manning the camera at the Town Hall/Bear Band part of the maze
Above & Beyond - for staying late last Saturday to help out Special Santa even though it was
after her shift was over
Crowd Control - for her work on Saturday keeping the crowds amused in HR while they stood
and stood in line

Shortcake wears these buttons with pride, and when people ask where she got them, she says she earned them by being a good elf.