Beyond Thank You: Unlocking the Impact of Employee Recognition

7th October 2025

Oct 7, 2025

Celebrating Both Effort and Impact

What does employee recognition mean in your workplace? Is it about celebrating commitment, or appreciating the difference someone makes in their role? However, it is expressed, recognition plays a vital role in acknowledging the efforts and positive impact of people across your organisation. Discerning between the two individual concepts of “effort” and “impact” is important to reflect the scope that workplace recognition can cover. Recognising an employee for “effort”, for example, can mean celebrating their long-term dedication to the organisation or praising diligent work throughout a project. Whereas appreciating “impact” can express gratitude for making a meaningful difference, enabling recognition for smaller actions across the business that truly make someone’s day.

The Importance of Maintaining Objectivity While Recognising

Maintaining objectivity is crucial to upholding a culture of employee recognition in the workplace, ensuring that everyone is honoured for their dedication, irrespective of personal relationships. It is important to recognise your people for their effort and impact equally within your business, regardless of whether you have a great friendship or have had differences in the past. Prioritising impartiality ensures an uninterrupted culture of recognition that is consistent and meaningful. Utilising tools such as automated milestones enables the maintenance of fair and equal celebration of personal achievements, such as birthdays and work anniversaries.

Woosh Raza, Founder of Into the Orbit Consulting, shared: “Employee recognition builds belonging, and its impact is limitless. When everyone’s contributions are seen and celebrated, our workplaces grow richer, stronger, and more inclusive.”

Why Does Recognising and Appreciating People Matter?

Besides the noticeable impact of making someone’s day, a strong culture of regular employee recognition has a measurable impact on staff retention and job satisfaction.

79% of employees who receive regular meaningful recognition say that they feel a strong sense of belonging at work¹

66% of employees say they would leave their job if they didn’t feel appreciated²

87% say that meaningful recognition programs impact their job satisfaction³

These facts considered, placing significant importance on gratitude and appreciation within your organisation ultimately fosters a strong sense of connectivity and community.

Supporting People Throughout the Year with Employee Recognition

Promoting appreciation as a central value throughout your business demonstrates to your people that you genuinely care. The festive season might seem far away, but putting a recognition plan in place well in advance can make sure everyone is both celebrated and supported throughout the festive period. While the holiday period can provide a wonderful opportunity to spend time with family, it can also come with stress and financial pressure. Many people at Christmas struggle to make ends meet with the pressure to spend on food, drink and gifts. In fact, 41% of people report getting into debt over the festive period⁴. It’s not just finances that suffer; those with existing mental health issues report being “unable to cope” during this period when feelings such as loneliness and grief are exacerbated. Employee recognition can therefore be vital to ensuring all employees feel valued and supported throughout the ups and downs of festivities.

Rewarding employees with gifts and vouchers that are flexible and can be utilised by all, guarantees that all of your people feel the impact of your gratitude this holiday period. Another way to care for your employees is to both provide and promote the use of wellbeing resources such as an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). In addition to an EAP, benefits like earned wage access, salary sacrifice schemes, and financial advice give employees greater financial flexibility, helping to alleviate stress and reduce dependence on expensive credit options.

Saying thank you can take you less than a minute, but it has a powerful lasting impact. Take the time to make someone’s day and begin elevating your company’s culture of appreciation, connectivity, and positivity today!

This festive season, the greatest gift isn’t wrapped - it’s recognition. That’s why we’re launching our ‘Gratitude That Grows’ series, reframing the holidays as a time to celebrate your people, not just presents. Want access to exclusive one-pagers, Ecards, and thought-leadership content? Drop your interest here: https://bit.ly/GratitudeThatGrows

References

Stop Think. Financial Wellbeing Over This Festive Period. Available at: https://www.stopthink.co.uk/financial-wellbeing-over-this-festive-period/ (Accessed September 2025).

Select Software Reviews (2025, January 1). 50 Must-Know Employee Recognition Statistics in 2025. Available at: https://www.selectsoftwarereviews.com/blog/employee-recognition-statistics (Accessed September 2025).

Achievers (2025, June 17). 20 Employee Recognition Statistics for HR Leaders. Available at: https://www.achievers.com/blog/employee-recognition-statistics/ (Accessed September 2025).