Ahead of Employee Appreciation Day, Achievers Workforce Institute reveals three overlooked groups in the modern workplace and four eye-opening statistics that show how recognition drives business and culture outcomes
TORONTO — February 26, 2026 – Achievers, the world’s most utilized recognition and reward software that engages nearly 5 million employees every day across 190+ countries, is marking Employee Appreciation Day (Friday, March 6) by unveiling new findings from Achievers Workforce Institute’s (AWI) latest State of Recognition and Engagement and Retention reports that serve as a call to action to close the appreciation gap once and for all.
According to AWI’s Engagement and Retention Report, just 25% of employees feel genuinely appreciated at work. Additionally, AWI’s State of Recognition report shows that if employees felt their efforts were more frequently noticed and valued, more than 67% say they would increase their effort by at least 20%. Without it, engagement, commitment, and trust in leadership suffer.
Right now, the U.S. job market is presenting mixed signals; some indicators point to improvement, while others suggest ongoing strain. What most can agree on is that uncertainty remains high. As organizations work to navigate this complexity while retaining top talent, gaps in employee recognition can have measurable impacts on belonging, productivity, and retention.
“Appreciation is the strongest multiplier in the employee experience, and Employee Appreciation Day is a great reminder that strategic tools exist that can dramatically reduce attrition, boost engagement, and accelerate culture change,” said David Bator, Managing Director of AWI. “When employees feel seen and valued by their leaders during Employee Appreciation Day and year-round, they’re more connected to their organization’s mission and their peers, more productive, far more likely to stay, and more committed to giving their all each and every day. Recognition isn’t symbolic. It’s strategic.”
Three Groups to Pay Attention to this Employee Appreciation Day:
- Women: Employee Appreciation Day and International Women’s Day both fall in early March. Yet the people at the intersection of these observances, working women, often feel overlooked and burned out. AWI finds that women are about half as likely as men to feel connected to their company’s values, appreciated at work, fairly compensated, or supported with opportunities to grow and develop their careers.
- Gen Xers: AWI data suggests the “forgotten generation” label may be more fact than fiction. Compared to other generations, Gen X employees are the least likely to receive weekly recognition, feel a strong sense of belonging, or feel supported in their learning and career growth. They’re also the least likely to say their peers treat one another with respect and professionalism or to feel connected to their coworkers.
- Healthcare workers: The industry responsible for caring for others is issuing a quiet cry for help. Healthcare workers are significantly less likely than the average employee to say their manager recognizes them in ways that make them feel valued. They are also far less likely to trust their managers or feel a strong sense of belonging at work.
Four Signals Leaders Can’t Ignore:
Organizations can’t afford to treat these gaps as an unavoidable cost of doing business. There are clear, science-backed links between appreciation and stronger business performance and culture outcomes:
- Belonging Builds Engagement: Belonging is one of the strongest predictors of engagement, and employees who feel appreciated are 54 times more likely to feel a strong sense of belonging.
- Recognition Strengthens Connection: Appreciation breeds connection; employees frequently recognized are 56 times more connected to company values, 12 times more likely to find their work meaningful, and 41 times more likely to be connected to their manager.
- Productivity Follows Frequency: Employees recognized weekly are 2.6 times more likely to be their most productive selves. Recognition frequency matters. Weekly recognition is directly linked to higher productivity, clarity, and engagement.
- Appreciation Reduces Attrition: Employees who feel appreciated are 2.5 times more likely to stay at their company. In a competitive labor market where retaining top talent is a top priority, appreciation is one of the most accessible and scalable retention strategies available.
“Employees are the heart of an organization’s success,” Bator added. “But appreciation can’t live on the calendar alone. The organizations seeing measurable gains are the ones building recognition into everyday leadership habits, empowering managers and peers to acknowledge meaningful contributions in real time. That’s when appreciation shifts from a calendar moment to a competitive advantage.”
This Employee Appreciation Day, it’s time to move beyond one-day celebrations. To invest in frequent, meaningful recognition that reinforces company values, strengthens relationships, and drives measurable business outcomes, schedule a demo with the Achievers team.
About the Study
The featured data is based on a new cross-industry and demographic analysis of two surveys. The Engagement and Retention Report survey was conducted in October 2025, completed by 2,500 employees and 1,500 HR professionals across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The State of Recognition Survey data is based on surveys conducted in May 2025, completed by 3,600 employees across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore.
About Achievers
Achievers recognition and reward software provides powerful tools to help business leaders shape employee behaviors and drive real business results. Visit us at www.achievers.com.
Contact
Audrey Surette
PAN Communications (for Achievers)
