Explore the new State of Recognition 2026 report

 

Employee Recognition

What is employee recognition? 

Employee recognition is the practice of expressing gratitude for great work, celebrating individual strengths, and rewarding meaningful achievements. It fulfills a core human need to feel valued and accomplished—and whether formal or informal, monetary or non-monetary, the most effective recognition is always timely, personalized, and genuine.

 
Why Recognition?

Why recognition, why now?

Disengagement costs the global economy $438 billion

It’s easy to dismiss disengagement as a problem for another day—but that day has come. Productivity, retention, and the bottom line all suffer because of the impact of disengaged employees. Thankfully there’s a definitive solution to the problem: employee recognition.

Employee recognition benefits

Recognition builds culture, incentivizes performance, and powers engagement

What used to be considered as a non-essential, nice-to-have, “we’ll use it when we think about it” HR component is in reality the foundational strategy to successful organisations.

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Employee recognition strategies

Build a recognition strategy that delivers

Many leaders understand that recognition has an impact but don’t know where to start. Access thought leadership resources, including exclusive content from our Centre of Excellence, to begin creating a strong foundation.

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Why recognition matters

Discover the science behind recognition, see real-world client examples, and get the strategic best practices you need to start your own recognition journey.

White Paper

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The Ultimate Guide to Employee Recognition
 
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The Ultimate Guide to Employee Recognition
 
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Building a Culture That Thrives on Change
 
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Building a Culture That Thrives on Change
 
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Discovering the True Return on Recognition™
 
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Employee Rewards & Recognition Research Findings
 
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White Paper

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The 80's Called: They Want Their Recognition Programs Back
 
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The 80s Called: They Want Their Recognition Programs Back
 
 
Return on Recognition

Recognition ROI

It’s not just nice to have. It’s a strategic business advantage.

Employee recognition isn’t just good for people, it’s good for business, too. From retention and engagement to productivity and culture, recognition drives tangible results that impact the bottom line. Organizations investing in recognition strategies with Awardco have seen a 120% YOY boost in performance, 20% lower turnover, and stronger long-term growth.

Measurable Outcomes

Discover the real ROI of employee recognition

Recognition strategies fuel measurable business outcomes across all industries, no matter the size, location, or work environment.

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Recognition Resources

Build ROI-driven strategies that last

Recognition works best when it’s sustainable and strategic. Access product insights, proprietary research, and practical tools to maximize your Return on Recognition.

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Unlock the true ROI of recognition

See the data, stories, and strategies that prove recognition is one of the most impactful investments you can make into your organization.

White Paper

White Paper

The Ultimate Guide to Employee Recognition
 
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White Paper

White Paper

The Ultimate Guide to Employee Recognition
 
Webinar

Webinar

Building a Culture That Thrives on Change
 
Watch now

Watch now

Building a Culture That Thrives on Change
 
Webinar

Webinar

 
Blog

Blog

Discovering the True Return on Recognition™
 
Read more

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Blog

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Employee Rewards & Recognition Research Findings
 
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White Paper

White Paper

The 80's Called: They Want Their Recognition Programs Back
 
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White Paper

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The 80s Called: They Want Their Recognition Programs Back
 
 
Recognition Beyond the Desk

DESKLESS RECOGNITION

80% of global employees aren’t at a desk

Most recognition platforms are designed for office workers at desks. But construction crews, nurses, warehouse teams, and hospitality staff don’t live in that world. When recognition doesn’t reach them, engagement, retention, and productivity suffer. Awardco solves this by making recognition possible anywhere—online, offline, frontline, and remote.

Recognition Benefits

Reach every employee, everywhere

When employees are recognized, engagement rises by 40%, productivity by 22%, and turnover drops by 31%. That’s not hyperbole, those are real results.

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EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION STRATEGIES

Build recognition programs that fit every environment

One-size-fits-all programs are a great baseline, yet sometimes fall short. No organization is the same, just as no employee is the same. Awardco delivers tools designed for every need, every situation, and every employee.

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Recognition solutions

Explore the strategies, solutions, and real-world examples that prove recognition can—and should—extend beyond the office to reach every employee.

White Paper

White Paper

The Ultimate Guide to Employee Recognition
 
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White Paper

White Paper

The Ultimate Guide to Employee Recognition
 
Webinar

Webinar

Building a Culture That Thrives on Change
 
Watch now

Watch now

Building a Culture That Thrives on Change
 
Webinar

Webinar

 
Blog

Blog

Discovering the True Return on Recognition™
 
Read more

Read more

 
Blog

Blog

 
Blog

Blog

Employee Rewards & Recognition Research Findings
 
Read more

Read more

 
Blog

Blog

 
White Paper

White Paper

The 80's Called: They Want Their Recognition Programs Back
 
Read more

Read more

 
White Paper

White Paper

The 80s Called: They Want Their Recognition Programs Back
 

Employee Recognition FAQs

FAQs

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about employee recognition

What is employee recognition?
Employee recognition is the practice of expressing gratitude for great work, celebrating individual strengths, and rewarding meaningful achievements. It fulfills a core human need to feel valued and accomplished—and whether formal or informal, monetary or non-monetary, the most effective recognition is always timely, personalized, and genuine.

Recognition takes many forms. It can range from a public shoutout or handwritten note to a structured program with points, awards, or experiences. 

The most effective programs make recognition frequent, authentic, personalized, and connected to what matters most to your people.
Why is employee recognition important?
Research shows that when people feel recognized for the work they do, they are 4X more likely to be engaged. Moreover, quality recognition can lower voluntary turnover by 31% and increase productivity.

Consistent appreciation isn’t just good for morale; it’s a proven driver of performance, loyalty, and business success. When people feel valued for their work, they’re more likely to stay with the company, perform at higher levels, and contribute to a positive culture. 
What is an employee recognition program?
An employee recognition program is an organized system that helps leaders and peers celebrate accomplishments across the company. These programs can include everything from performance milestones to peer nominations or spot awards. 

Modern recognition platforms, like Awardco, integrate rewards and recognition into daily workflows. The result? Appreciation is made simple, scalable, and data-driven. 
How does recognition motivate employees?
Recognition motivates employees by meeting a core psychological need—the desire to feel valued and purposeful at work. In fact, studies show that feeling appreciated increases both engagement and productivity, while reducing burnout and turnover.

When people see that their effort makes a difference and is appreciated, it triggers intrinsic motivation, inspiring them to keep performing at a high level. Recognition also strengthens the connection between employees and their teams. This creates a sense of belonging and shared success. 

The key is to make recognition timely, specific, and genuine so it reinforces the right behaviors and reminds employees why their contributions matter.
How to show employee appreciation in the workplace?
Showing employee appreciation doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It’s about making employees feel genuinely valued. Simple gestures, such as saying 'thank you,' recognizing achievements in team meetings, or sharing a thoughtful note, can go a long way. 

Many organizations also combine public recognition with personalized rewards. Examples include points, gift cards, experiences, or extra time off, to create meaningful and inclusive appreciation. 

The key is consistency and authenticity: regular, sincere acknowledgment helps employees feel seen, motivates continued effort, and fosters a stronger workplace culture. 
How to show employee appreciation in the workplace?
Showing employee appreciation doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It’s about making employees feel genuinely valued. Simple gestures, such as saying 'thank you,' recognizing achievements in team meetings, or sharing a thoughtful note, can go a long way. 

Many organizations also combine public recognition with personalized rewards. Examples include points, gift cards, experiences, or extra time off, to create meaningful and inclusive appreciation. 

The key is consistency and authenticity: regular, sincere acknowledgment helps employees feel seen, motivates continued effort, and fosters a stronger workplace culture. 
What are the best employee recognition programs?
Gallup shares that the best recognition is “honest, authentic and individualized.” The top programs empower everyone (not just admins) to recognize others and celebrate success frequently. 

Digital platforms like Awardco streamline this process by combining recognition with automated tracking, analytics, and flexible, multi-channel ways to drive engagement. It’s built to support growing businesses as well as large, distributed enterprises, with extensive reward options, powerful integrations, and transparent pricing.Learn more:

Build recognition that drives results

Recognition isn't a luxury—it's your next strategic advantage.

Dive deep into the psychology, ROI, and successful strategies of recognition in our latest white paper.

Hear from experts in the field on building a recognition strategy that sticks in this webinar.

Explore our Centre of Excellence, a dedicated group of industry leaders and practitioners who understand every nuance of employee recognition and rewards.

Discover how to use Awardco to build your recognition strategy and programs in this live demo.

See why organisations like yours are finding serious success by reading our customer stories.

Dive into the numbers and science behind recognition in the Return on Recognition white paper.

See how we’ve realized industry-leading retention and a 400% increase in recognition in our own organization.

Explore our proprietary research (and learn what kind of recognition resonates most) in our recent webinar.

Tap into exclusive research and strategic guidance from Awardco’s Center of Excellence.

Learn how new product releases in Awardco 2.0 enhance adoption and buy-in with our latest Product Pulse.

Discover how organizations like yours achieve incredible results with Awardco in our customer stories library.

Check out our product roadmap and all the things we’ve been up to in our latest news releases.

Explore the impact of recognition in our Recognition Without Limits white paper.

Hear how healthcare leaders are building culture with offline recognition in our latest webinar.

See the measurable outcomes of recognition in our customer stories library.

AwardCodes™ for instant, physical recognition.

External Recognition™ that lets patients, customers, and clients participate.

Incentive programs that drive safe, productive, and customer-focused behaviors.

Mobile recognition that brings recognition to screens and phones.

A-Pay™ Cards for flexible rewards employees actually want.