How simple act of recognition can help struggling employees

Appreciation wanted

Expressing appreciation will be an effective way to help out workers, according to the survey of more than 2,200 employees in the U.S., Ireland, Canada and the U.K. conducted in November.

“It takes little to no budget – perhaps a shift in mindset – to give praise when you see someone doing something right, rather than waiting for a formal review,” says Two Years into COVID: The State of Human Connection at Work. “We’re all human and feel seen when we’re shown appreciation.”

Specifically, workers who were thanked in the last month are half as likely to be looking for a new job (24 per cent compared with 48 per cent) and more than twice as likely to be highly engaged (48 per cent compared with 21 per cent).

These workers are also more than twice as likely to feel respected at work (82 per cent compared with 34 per cent) and more than three times as likely to see a path to grow in their current organization (59 per cent compared with 19 per cent).

“The one easy fix that has a big impact – expressing appreciation – is nowhere near where it needs to be. It’s a proven fact that recognition has a positive effect and so many more factors that can help a business improve its culture and its bottom line. Organizations need to lean into their ‘thank you’ muscles, or they’ll continue to say goodbye to their employees,” says Chris French, executive vice president at Workhuman.