SHRM’s 2026 State of the Workplace report names engagement as the top issue workers want HR to prioritize this year. The same research found that among workers who say their employer is ineffective at meeting workplace needs, 51% are at least somewhat likely to leave within the next year.

For executives and budget owners, that number lands as a line item. The useful question is which investments move it, and which ones only feel good.

Awardco’s Center of Excellence set out to answer that. Last year’s State of Recognition report showed that both the method and the frequency of recognition matter. For 2027, we went bigger and more global: 4,792 employees across 21 countries and 11 industries, all at organizations with 250 or more employees.

One channel beats none by a wide margin

One of the most impactful findings in our research focused on engagement levels of employees recognized through various channels. Employees who had not been recognized in the past three months scored 30% on engagement. Employees recognized through a single channel scored 58%. That is nearly double, from one change.

Then the data kept climbing. Engagement rose again with a second channel, and again with a third. The full report has all the numbers, but the pattern is clear. Recognition compounds, and the mix matters more than any single channel.

A platform changes the mix

Companies without a dedicated recognition platform lean heavily on private one-on-ones. Companies with one still lead with in-person recognition, then layer on shoutouts, email, and the platform itself.

The difference shows up in a number every executive can use. Without a platform, 15% of employees said they had not been recognized at all in the past three months. With one, that dropped to 3%. That is an 80% improvement, and it comes from treating recognition as a formal practice that is easy to give.

Three more findings worth your attention

Channel mix is one of four themes in this year’s report. Here is a look at the rest:

• Manager recognition and service anniversaries: these two practices showed up as the cornerstone of recognition, with double-digit gains across nearly every dimension of the employee experience we measured. Some of the results go well beyond engagement. If milestone moments are still handled by hand, automated service awards are a good place to look.
• The price of a meaningful reward: there is a minimum amount that makes a reward feel significant, and a point where spending more stops paying off. We found both numbers. We also asked employees why a reward felt significant, and the top answer may change how you build your budget.
• AI and recognition: most platforms are adding AI, and employees have opinions about where it belongs. Their comfort level shifted depending on how AI was used and where in the world they work. The data points to a clear line worth knowing before you invest.

Where to start

You don’t need the full report to take a first step. Ask how many ways an employee at your company can receive recognition today. If the answer is one, you’ve found the easiest way to increase engagement at your organization.

The State of Recognition 2027 has the rest of the numbers, plus four takeaways you can put to work this quarter. Get the full report here.

Awardco brings recognition, rewards, and engagement into one platform that integrates with the tools your teams already use. See how it works.