Is Employee Recognition in the Workplace Worth It?

Learn about the lasting effects and top benefits of integrating employee recognition regularly into your company culture.

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Let’s start this with two alarming stats based on a 10-year study with over 200,000 employees.

  • 79% of employees who quit their jobs cite a lack of appreciation as a key reason.
  • According to a Gallup report, only 21% agree their performance is managed in a way that motivates them to do outstanding work.

You might then think that building out recognition programs would be among the first things a company may tackle when blueprinting their culture. Spoiler, It’s not. To the contrary, it’s often met with severe skepticism and probably fairly so as it can be difficult to quantify and qualify the ROI on programs like these. Let’s dive into and address some of these concerns and questions often brought up by the executives making the decisions on whether or not to add a recognition program to their retention and talent happiness strategy.

How Does Recognition Affect Workplace Culture?

Recognition has a profound impact on workplace culture, shaping both employee morale and overall organizational atmosphere. When employees feel acknowledged and valued for their contributions, it creates a positive environment where individuals are more motivated, engaged, and committed to their work. Recognition reinforces desirable behaviors, aligns efforts with company goals, and encourages a sense of belonging and accomplishment. This positive reinforcement builds a culture where employees collaborate, innovate, and strive for excellence. A culture of recognition enhances employee satisfaction and loyalty, reducing turnover and creating a supportive work environment. Integrating recognition into the workplace will enhance individual performance and cultivate a cohesive and thriving organizational culture.

Will Recognition Improve Employee Engagement or Employee Experience?

Recognition can significantly improve both employee engagement and employee experience, but they influence different aspects of the workplace:

  1. Employee Engagement: Recognition boosts engagement by making employees feel valued and acknowledged for their contributions. When employees receive recognition, they’re more likely to be motivated, committed to their roles, and invested in the company’s goals. It creates a positive feedback loop where employees strive to perform well to receive more recognition, enhancing overall engagement levels.
  2. Employee Experience: Recognition enhances the overall employee experience by contributing to a positive workplace culture. It improves job satisfaction and fosters a sense of belonging. Feeling appreciated impacts the overall experience at work, making it more likely to enjoy roles, stay with the company, and advocate for it.

How Will Recognition Help With Recruiting and Retention?

Showing meaningful, consistent appreciation to workers is a simple and effective way to create an attractive company culture. Recognition plays a crucial role in both recruiting and retention by creating a positive and engaging workplace culture. Here’s how:

Recruiting

  1. Attractive Workplace Culture: Companies known for recognizing and rewarding their employees are often seen as desirable places to work. This positive reputation can attract top talent who are seeking a supportive and appreciative work environment.
  2. Employee Testimonials: Current employees who feel valued are more likely to share their positive experiences with potential recruits, enhancing your company’s reputation through word-of-mouth and online reviews.
  3. Differentiation: In a competitive job market, having a robust recognition program can set your company apart from others that may not offer similar levels of appreciation, making your organization more appealing to candidates.

Retention

  1. Increased Job Satisfaction: Regular recognition helps employees feel valued and appreciated, leading to higher job satisfaction. Satisfied employees are less likely to seek opportunities elsewhere.
  2. Motivation and Engagement: Recognition boosts employee motivation and engagement by acknowledging their hard work and achievements. Engaged employees are more committed to their roles and the organization, reducing turnover.
  3. Personal Growth: Recognition often includes feedback on performance, which helps employees understand their strengths and areas for improvement. This supports their personal and professional growth, making them more likely to stay with the company.
  4. Building Loyalty: Recognizing employees develops a sense of loyalty to the organization. This emotional connection can be a strong deterrent against leaving for another job.
  5. Positive Work Environment: A culture of recognition fosters a supportive and collaborative work environment. This positive atmosphere can contribute to employee well-being and job satisfaction, which in turn enhances retention.

How Does Recognition Affect Our Bottom Line?

This is often the most critical for decision makers and the make or break point. We like to take a different approach and answer this from the other side and ask how costly it can be to not have an employee recognition program. Here’s a thought experiment, a SHRM report states: “The average cost-per-hire for companies is $4,129, and it takes 42 days to fill an open position. The facts, companies with recognition programs that are highly effective at improving employee engagement have 31% lower voluntary turnover.”

Recognition in the workplace can significantly impact a company's bottom line by enhancing employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity. When employees receive recognition for their contributions, it fosters a positive work environment where they feel valued and motivated. This increased job satisfaction often leads to higher levels of engagement and commitment, reducing turnover rates and the associated costs of hiring and training new staff. Employees who feel appreciated are more likely to be productive and go above and beyond in their roles, which can improve overall performance and drive business results. The positive effects of recognition also extend to team dynamics and organizational culture, creating a more collaborative and innovative atmosphere. Investing in recognition programs can lead to a more motivated workforce, higher quality work, and better financial outcomes for the company.

By now, it’s a well-known fact that employees aren’t feeling valued at work. Honestly, there really is no such thing as “too much recognition.” If you really want to keep your employees, motivate them through recognition. That simple validation has the power to drive productivity through the roof.

Create a recognition-rich culture and schedule a demo with Assembly to learn more.

Browse our Free Employee Recognition Guide

Get the foundational knowledge on creating an employee recognition program that boosts employee engagement and helps them feel valued.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Assembly SOC 2 compliant?

Yes, at Assembly, security is a top priority. Each quarter, we have ongoing security work that is everyone’s responsibility. While we maintain a strong security posture, it was important for us to prove to our customers that we do everything we claim to do. This led us to pursue a SOC 2 Type II report that would provide evidence of our compliance with industry gold-standard security practice.

What's the ROI for employee recognition?

There is study after study showing that employee recognition leads to increased engagement. This in return creates an environment where employees are happier and more motivated which increase productivity and reduces voluntary turnover significantly. In order to filled critical roles, companies tend to spend nearly twice the value of an annual salary. Assembly is an investment in your employees that supports your bottom line.

Does Assembly offer longer-term contracts?

Yes, we will offer contracts for companies with longer-term agreements to help larger customers have more certainty around future costs.

The minimum agreement term is a 12-month subscription.

Does Assembly offer onboarding support?

We do and for FREE! Any new customer needing further support to get started with Assembly to ensure you're set up for success can request custom onboarding support. Improving your employee experience is about much more than just using our amazing software; it’s about transforming your business to create a workplace that people love. That’s much easier to do with the personal support and advice from our passionate people experts.

How much do rewards cost?

At the time of redemption (when your employees exchange their points for a paid reward) you'll pay face value. If a reward is a $10 Amazon gift card, your cost will be $10. All paid rewards are billed for on a monthly basis.

The good news is that you don't have to pay for rewards upfront because we only charge you when points are redeemed, not when they're earned.

Does Assembly offer discounts?

We offer discounts or educational or charitable organizations. In order to secure a discount, you'll first need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.

For all other organizations, we are willing to consider longer-term agreements in exchange for discounts. To set up annual plans or longer, you will need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.

How do I cancel my plan if needed?

If you're on a month to month plan, you can go here and cancel anytime. If you're having concerns or need help setting up your account for success, you can always book a demo with a customer support specialist.

If you're on a longer-term custom plan, you'll need to reach out to your customer support specialist to cancel your account or email us at support@joinassembly.com.

What customizations are available?

Great question! You can customize your core values to match your organization's to boost and track alignment. You can change your currency from the 🏆 emoji (our default) to any emoji of your choice. You can swap our logo for your own. You can also set up company culture rewards such as, "Lunch with the CEO," "Buy a book on us," and so much more!

Who can give or receive recognition?

While we recommend a peer to peer set up where anyone in your organization can give or receive recognition, you can set up Assembly however you want. If you need to limit the people who can give or receive recognition, that's perfectly fine and can be done from your Admin, here.

What integrations are available?

Assembly connects to the tools your employees use every day to offer an easy, seamless experience with minimal change management.  

Assembly has integrations with HCM/HRIS systems like ADP, Google, Office 365, and Slack. We also integrate with communication tools like Slack and Teams so you and your employees can access Assembly wherever they work now.

What's your average adoption rate?

That depends on the company's permissions set up. That said, over 90% of the employees on Assembly's platform are recognized on a monthly basis. That means nearly every employee across all of our customers are receiving regular recognition from their peers, managers, or leadership. We're extremely proud of this.

Must rewards be set up to use Assembly?

They are not required. You can use Assembly without having rewards set up. However, we don't recommend it if you intend to have a high adoption and usage rate. You can always keep the costs down by offering internal culture rewards that are fulfilled by you internally.

Are points required to use Assembly?

No, you can remove allowances from anyone or everyone. It's up to you but we do recommend using points whether they're worth a real dollar value or not. Companies that use points have a much higher engagement rate even if those points don't exchange for real dollars.

Could find the answer you are looking for?

Please schedule time with an expert and we will help you to get all your questions answered