As Employee Appreciation Day approaches on Friday March 7, new research from Robert Half reveals that three in four employees feel recognized and valued by their employers, highlighting the importance of appreciation in the workplace.
Cal Jungwirth
Cal Jungwirth, Director of Permanent Placement Services at Robert Half, discussed the results of the company’s recent study, emphasizing that recognition not only improves morale but also plays a crucial role in employee retention. This data serves as a reminder for organizations to prioritize showing gratitude to their teams, especially amid a competitive job market where 40% of employees are actively considering new opportunities.
In the interview, Jungwirth explained that while competitive compensation is essential, small acts of appreciation — such as a genuine thank you or offering flexible time off — have a lasting impact on employees’ motivation and productivity. He stressed the importance of personalized recognition, which can foster stronger relationships between employers and employees. Whether it’s through small gestures like gift cards or offering additional time off, these actions can go a long way in building a positive workplace culture and maintaining top talent.
Jungwirth also pointed out that retaining key employees should be a primary focus for employers. With many employees contemplating a job change, companies must take proactive steps to ensure their best performers feel valued. Cultivating an environment where employees feel heard and appreciated can prevent costly turnover and ensure long-term success for organizations.
The new research from Robert Half explores how workers feel about the state of recognition at their work. A survey of 1,500 professionals aged 18 and over across Canada (conducted December 2024) found that nearly three in four (74%) said they feel adequately recognized by their manager – a sign that leaders are doing something right!
When it comes to the types of recognition that motivate professionals to do their best work (beyond monetary means), they said:
- Extra time off (46%)
- Small tokens of appreciation such as gift cards (46%)
- Verbal praise during one-on-one meetings (40%)
- Increased schedule flexibility (36%)
- Public recognition such as corporate awards or team announcements (32%)
When asked how their companies currently show appreciation, workers cited things such as employee appreciation events and awards (51%), benefits and perks beyond traditional offerings such as unlimited PTO and wellness stipends (43%), and impromptu time off with things like early departure days (38%) as some examples.
“I would say well done to a lot of the leaders out there. They’re definitely doing something right along those regards. But, I think Employee Appreciation Day is just a good reminder that the people we have on our teams, they’re valuable and they need to know that we truly appreciate them, that they’re a key part of our teams and our organizations,” said Jungwirth.
He said feeling adequately and fairly compensated, that you’re getting annual bumps, is important because the cost of living discussion is never going away anytime soon.
“If you feel you’re compensated well, that’s one box to check. But then, over and above that, I think it’s just a lot of small stuff. Small stuff, though, turns into big stuff. So, number one, again, just saying it out loud, “Thanks for a job well done.. Thanks for staying late. Thanks for putting in a couple of extra hours and getting the project done.” Just a simple, authentic, genuine thank you goes a long way.”
Photo by
Yan Krukau
Jungwirth added that impacts motivation.
“:That may show up in a couple of different ways. It could impact the culture — if you’re not happy, you’re not contributing to a positive culture. Good culture impacts the bottom line. So it’s important for organizations. And I’m sure we’ve got examples, where we’ve dealt with an organization as a client or a customer, and if we’re dealing with someone who’s not happy, that’s probably going to come through, and we may not have a good experience and we may take our business elsewhere,” he said.
“The other thing that I highlight, too, is that at any given time, about 40% of individuals that are employed are considering or looking for a new job. We really want to put our arms around our top performers, our good people, just in case they fall into that 40%. And if they feel appreciated, that’s obviously one way to hopefully keep them on the team.”
Jungwirth said companies have done a number of different things to make sure their employees feel appreciated and personalizing that experience is important as it leads to good authentic relationships.
“If I reach out to you directly with something that I know will resonate with you specifically, it’s probably going to go a lot longer, right? It’s a higher impact. I come back to that word authentic, and you’re going to feel valued, and you’re going to feel heard, and that’s what we want.”
Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Podcast. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 and 2024 as one of the top business journalists in the world by PR News. He was also named by RETHINK to its global list of Top Retail Experts 2024 and 2025.
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