Canadian employers cite boosts to loyalty, productivity, long-term success
Not just a nice to have, employee recognition can give Canadian employers an upper hand.
That's according to a recent survey that found nearly 9 in 10 employers (87%) agree recognition is a competitive advantage, with benefits that include:
- boosting loyalty (92%)
- reducing turnover (82%)
- for long-term success (75%).
Nearly all Canadian hiring managers (99%) believe recognising employees for their work is important, and half (48%) say it's "absolutely essential," according to Express Employment Professionals.
When recognition occurs, employers report measurable outcomes. Employees feel valued (63%), morale rises (60%), productivity improves (57%) and engagement grows (50%), according to the survey.
Low-cost options for recognition
While 45% admit their company does not have the resources to manage recognition effectively, according to the survey, recognition is typically delivered through low-cost methods, such as:
- private praise from managers (46%)
- public praise in meetings (36%)
- on-the-spot awards such as extra time off (35%)
- shoutouts in company communications (33%).
Nearly 9 in 10 (85%) job seekers agree that receiving recognition at work, even when it is not monetary, makes them feel like a valued member of the company, according to Canadian Employment Professionals.
Most employers say recognition is frequent and ongoing (76%), according to the two surveys—one of 500 Canadian hiring decision-makers and another of over 500 Canadian adults, both conducted in October. However, monthly recognition is uncommon: private praise occurs for just 21% of employees, public praise for 20%, and shoutouts for 16%. More than one in ten employees report recognition happens only once annually or less frequently.
Encouragingly, most employed job seekers (63%) say they currently feel or previously felt appropriately recognised for their contributions.
The most common outcomes when employees are recognised include feeling valued (58%), increased morale (47%), greater engagement (46%) and improved productivity (42%).
Here’s why most employee recognition programs miss the mark, according to a previous report.
