11 employee recognition statistics worth bookmarking in 2025

Research shows recognition and motivation go hand-in-hand

We’ve known for decades that employee recognition in the workplace is an amazing tool for motivation and employee engagement – however workplaces seemingly still struggle to get recognition right.

A study by Glassdoor found that recognition is a much better motivator for great work than old-school fear tactics in the workplace. The results showed that only 38% of employees will work harder if their boss is demanding, and 37% if they have a genuine fear of losing their job – but recognition and appreciation goes much, much further.

• Four in five (81%) employees say they’re motivated to work harder when their boss shows appreciation for their work. (Glassdoor, 2013).

And plenty of other similar employee recognition research show the same story…

• More than 83% of employees feel that recognition affects their motivation to succeed at work. (Nectar HR, 2024)
• 82% of UK employees said that recognition from their managers is important to their happiness at work. (People Management, 2023).
• Employees who receive great recognition are 20 times more likely to be engaged as employees who receive poor recognition. And those employees are 3.8 times more likely to feel connected to their culture. (Gallup, 2023).

The undeniable impact recognition has on a business’s bottom line

Recognition of employees isn’t just about improving morale – it also has tangible benefits that positively impact a company’s bottom line.

By acknowledging and appreciating employees’ contributions, businesses can reduce turnover rates, enhance profitability, and even improve customer satisfaction.

• Organisations with formal employee recognition programs have 31% less voluntary turnover than organisations that don’t. They’re also 12x more likely to have strong business outcomes. (Quantum Workplace, 2024)
• 63% of employees would rather work for a company that had a culture where people were praised regularly for doing good work, than for a company that paid 10% more but offered no praise. (Reward Gateway, 2019)
• People Management UK reported that 41% of companies with peer-to-peer recognitions programs have seen an increase in customer satisfaction. (PM, 2023).
• Companies with strategic recognition report more than 23% lower turnover rate than companies without a recognition program. (Globoforce, 2012).

Showing appreciation for your employees will always be worth it…

The most important part about appreciating your employees is being authentic and personalised. And when you can get it right, the benefits for your team and organisation can be truly transformative.

Staff recognition shapes trust in leadership, increases motivation and loyalty at work, and is proven to be a cost-effective approach to retention – there really isn’t an argument against implementing an employee recognition scheme in your workplace.

• Nearly 90% of employees have high trust in a leader who recognises their accomplishments, compared to 48% who feel the same level of trust without recognition. (O.C. Tanner, 2022)
• Organisations with a recognition program have 14% higher employee engagement, productivity, and performance. (Deloitte, 2013)
• 79% of workers say that an increase in recognition and rewards would make them more loyal to their workplace. (SHRM, 2019)

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About the author

Jade Madeley

Starting out her early career as a journalist, Jade Madeley is an accomplished content writer with 8+ years’ experience across business, personal finance, SaaS, human resources and employee engagement. Working with Stribe, she crafts insightful content that brings complex HR topics to life and drives meaningful action.