A new study by Reward Gateway, which surveyed 500 employees in the UK, revealed that generic and annual recognition or rewards are inadequate as modern workers demand to be recognised in more timely and meaningful ways
Only 18% of employees surveyed noted that they liked receiving praise at a single event or function and 70% of employees agreed that their managers could do more to praise and thank them in a timely, specific way, highlighting the importance of in-the-moment recognition. In addition, 76% of employees agreed that motivation and morale would improve at their company if managers simply said “thank you” more and noticed when people do good work.
The research also found a lack of effective recognition in offices in the UK with over half (52%) of employees feeling their manager unfairly rewards certain people over others, while 42% agreed they had received a reward that didn’t reflect the work put into it.
With employers investing $46 billion globally on employee reward and recognition initiatives, more still needs to be done, as the research shows that the modern workforce values recognition that is timely, consistent, and fair over that which is generic or invisible.
Reward Gateway client, Nadim Abi-Antoun, Chief Operating Officer of Presbyterian Homes, an independent, not-for-profit, senior living provider in the Chicago area, says about its approach to reward and recognition at work:
“We have over 1,200 employees who represent multiple generations and work in a wide variety of locations and environments— from nursing, to dining, to maintenance and operations. We know that consistent and timely recognition is a powerful driver of employee engagement for our entire workforce. This positively impacts retention and our ability to provide a high level of care and support to our residents and their families.”
Commenting on the research, Doug Butler, CEO at Reward Gateway, said:
“Companies need to be investing in the right kind of recognition and reward programs that fit both the employees’ and company’s goals, and we’re focused on helping our clients to deliver recognition programmes that create an environment where their people can be motivated and engaged.”
