New Workhuman and Gallup Research Finds Recognition in the Workplace
Could Prevent 45% of Voluntary Turnover
Data also illustrates the significant impact high-quality recognition and feedback have on encouraging
professional development and upskilling, increasing engagement, and boosting positive emotions
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. and WASHINGTON, D.C. — September 18, 2024 — According to new researchreleased today by Workhuman® and Gallup, which tracked the career paths of more than 3,400 employees
from 2022 to 2024, employees who received high-quality recognition in 2022 were 45% less likely to have left
their job by 2024. The report, The Human-Centered Workplace: Building Organizational Cultures ThatThrive, also found that 42% of senior executives strongly agree that employee recognition must be a key pillar
in their employee engagement and retention strategy, up from a mere 28% from two years ago.
“Our research with Gallup is so important, as it digs into three crucial elements of supporting and uplifting
people at work – strategic recognition, feedback and wellbeing,” said Meisha-Ann Martin, Ph.D, Workhumansenior director, people analytics and research. “The findings illustrate that recognition of both personal andworkplace accomplishments has a significant impact on reducing turnover, increasing engagement andboosting positive emotions. When people feel their best, when they’re part of a community. When they havesocial support, when they feel seen, heard, appreciated, and valued, they thrive — and the businesses theywork for thrive as well.”Prior Gallup and Workhuman research established that creating high-impact workplace recognition involves
meeting five key pillars: It should be fulfilling, authentic, personalized, equitable, and deeply embedded incompany culture. The new report explores how frequently people are experiencing these strategic pillars aspart of their recognition experience:•More than half (55%) of all U.S. employees do not receive recognition at all or receive recognition that
does not satisfy any of these pillars.

•Employees who receive recognition fulfilling even just one pillar are 2.9 times as likely to be engaged
as those who receive recognition that does not fulfill any of the five pillars.

•Those who receive recognition that fulfills four or more pillars are 66% less likely to experienceloneliness daily, and 4.4 times more likely to strongly agree their job gives them a purpose in life.

This 2024 research found that, in addition to quality recognition, employees benefit from all meaningful
feedback regarding their work performance. Only one in four (25%) employees strongly agree they receive
valuable feedback from the people they work with, but those who do are five times as likely to be engaged.
Nearly half (46%) of employees report that they do not get feedback from their manager at the rate they want.
In addition to having impacts on wellbeing, engagement and turnover, the data proves that high-quality
recognition and feedback also help encourage professional development and upskilling. Employees whostrongly agree their organization encourages them to learn new skills are 8.4 times as likely to strongly agree
that there is a path for them to grow in their organization, 47% less likely to be searching or watching foranother job, and 4.2 times as likely to be engaged. However, many employers are not leveraging recognition todrive skill development, with only 14% of employees saying that learning a new skill is one of the mostcommon reasons they are recognized.
"The world is changing rapidly, and organizations need to change with it," said Ed O’Boyle, Gallup global
practice leader. "Recognizing and encouraging upskilling not only helps employees feel valued for the time andeffort they put in to learn something new; it fosters a culture where curiosity and growth are celebrated andseen as essential."
To read The Human-Centered Workplace: Building Organizational Cultures That Thrive and additional
Workhuman and Gallup research, please visit: www.workhuman.com/resources/gallup.
About WorkhumanWorkhuman® is helping companies meet today’s biggest human capital challenges — including unprecedented
turnover, employee engagement, hybrid work environments and DEI — through the Workhuman Cloud®, asecure SaaS platform that provides the industry’s best-in-class Social Recognition® solution. As the leading
global provider of technology solutions, analytics, expertise and services helping organizations of all sizes buildand foster workplace cultures powered by employee recognition and crowdsourced feedback, Workhuman isrevolutionizing the way employees celebrate, connect with, and appreciate each other in the workplace.
Combined with unmatched data through Workhuman iQ®, we empower HR (Human Resources) and businessleaders with proactive insight to understand issues as they develop and tools to help them make the rightdecisions to align business objectives and culture to deliver immediate impact. And, with world-class award
redemption from our proprietary global network, Workhuman is committed to building more connected humancentered workplaces that recognize the value and potential of each and every employee.
For more than 20 years, Workhuman has been pioneering the human workplace by disrupting legacy andobsolete HR approaches to improve the employee experience at work, with solutions that engage with approx.
seven million customer employees in 30+ languages, in 180 countries, generating 100 million instances ofhuman connection. With dual headquarters in Dublin, Ireland and Framingham, Massachusetts, Workhumandeploys solutions and services at scale and is committed to helping companies improve returns on their mostimportant investment — their people. For more information, please visit www.workhuman.com.
About Gallup
Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems.
Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes andbehaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.
Media Contacts:
Workhuman
Jenna West
Jenna.west@workhuman.com
GallupAnnie Speer
Annie_Speer@gallup.com