You’ve probably heard a million times that employee recognition and appreciation is important—and it really is. But what exactly does it accomplish, besides letting the manager feel like a nice guy for a bit? Well, there are actually several benefits and effects of appreciating employees, both for the manager and for the employees themselves.
When managers are considered to be effectively recognizing their employees, studies found that they:
- Have lower turnover rates compared to other managers
- Achieve better organizational results
- Are viewed as being much better at goal-setting, communication, trust, and accountability
Also, a Global Recognition Study found that there is a high correlation between manager recognition and employee morale and engagement. Other effects include:
- 50 percent of employees believe increased recognition would reduce voluntary turnover
- 40 percent of employees who don’t feel recognized in a meaningful way will not go above their formal responsibilities
In a recent survey by Robert Half, respondents claimed that there are three main ingredients associated with happiness in the workplace:
- Pride (51 percent)
- Fairness and respect (51 percent)
- Feeling appreciated (50 percent)
Employee appreciation goes beyond feeling obligated to say, “good job.” It has obvious effects for both manager and employee, which makes for a better work environment all around.
