From Thanks to Thriving: The Secret to Employee Recognition That Drives Results

By Angela Wells

We’ve all heard that employee recognition is important. But what if you knew something as simple as saying ‘thank you’ or ‘great job’ could increase your organization’s bottom line? Recognizing employees increases engagement, which relates to their success and that of the business.  

• “A Gallup survey found that employees who receive frequent recognition are 4.6 times more likely to feel engaged at work.”  

• “According to a study by Workvivo, 83.6% of employees would be more motivated to succeed at work if they received recognition.” (Employee Recognition Statistics: A Data-Driven Guide for HR Professionals)  

Employees are naturally driven to perform well when they feel appreciated! Doesn’t it feel better when you are appreciated? 

• “Companies with highly engaged workforces are 21% more profitable and 17% more productive than those with disengaged staff.”  (11 Employee Engagement Statistics You Should Know For 2025 | Wellable)  

• “40% of American workers say they would put in more effort if they were recognized more often.” (Employee Recognition Statistics: A Data-Driven Guide for HR Professionals) 

That’s a lot of statistics! But data helps understand and drive action, right? When it’s part of your organization’s core values for the team to feel appreciated, it brings people in your company together with a sense of belonging and community. There are also so many positive results from recognizing your team, it’s easy to see that return on investment! 

In addition to increased engagement or satisfaction, higher productivity and lower disconnection, company culture is improved. That means it’s easier to attract and create top talent. And what you've been waiting to hear is true... retention is increased too! 

• “According to Gallup, well-recognized employees were 45% less likely to have changed organizations two years later.” 

• “57% of employees say they would not entertain job offers from recruiters if they felt recognized at their current job.” (Employee Recognition Statistics: A Data-Driven Guide for HR Professionals) 

How’s that for reducing turnover??  

So, what do you do about recognition? How do you recognize your team? What really works? We are all motivated by different types of recognition and personal values differ, so it’s important to have conversations with your team to understand what’s meaningful to them.  

While competitive compensation and benefits are important, there’s something to be said about non-financial recognition which can make a positive impact with little cost.  

• “Research shows that 65% of employees prefer non-cash rewards, indicating that recognition is often more about feeling seen and valued than about monetary incentives.” (Employee Recognition Statistics: A Data-Driven Guide for HR Professionals) 

Recognition can take the form of praise in many ways: 

• Gift Cards 

• Reward Points  

• Personalized Gifts 

Other special actions include: 

• Acknowledgement publicly in a meeting or at a team event 

• Social media shout out 

• Thank you note from leadership 

• Peer to peer praise   

Another unique idea is to use videos in sharing recognition such as when spotlighting a team member’s promotion or celebration of a company anniversary. You can even recognize a project milestone or the winner of a monthly or quarterly award. 

The more personal, authentic and consistent, the more meaningful the recognition is. It’s also important to be timely with recognition to achieve that boost in morale. Spontaneous recognition has a place too. 

Whether it’s recognition for performance such as going above and beyond, a job well done, or task based related to project completion, these are all an opportunity to connect. Employee successes are also a wonderful time to recognize, such as promotions, earning a degree or certification, and even those that are awarded employee of the month or other areas of achievement. Don't forget about those personal milestones such as work anniversaries and birthdays. It’s all about seeking out what can make those on your team feel special and seen.  

Getting to know your employees, understanding their interests, and collecting frequent feedback by listening to what recognition or rewards they care about makes a difference! 

Ready to hire some talented team members? At TalentRemedy, we help companies like yours find and keep top talent faster and smarter. Our expertise makes hiring more efficient, especially when it comes to in-demand talent. If you're looking for a tailored hiring approach that delivers real results, let’s talk! Reach out to us at info@talentremedy.com or 703-362-0175 to explore how we can streamline your recruiting process and help you find the right fit.