A consistent, year-round culture of gratitude in the workplace can significantly improve retention, productivity, and loyalty by ensuring employees feel genuinely valued for their contributions. 

Gallup research shows only one-in-three U.S. workers strongly agree they received praise in the previous week, and employees who feel insufficiently recognized are twice as likely to say they will quit within a year, making recognition a major missed opportunity for leaders. 

A survey by Express Employment Professionals and Harris Poll finds that nearly all hiring managers view recognition as important. A strong majority see it as essential and a competitive advantage, yet many admit they lack the resources to manage it effectively. Employees often report that praise is infrequent or reserved for big wins. 

Experts emphasize that the most effective recognition is honest, timely, and tailored to individual preferences, ranging from personal notes and on-the-spot praise to special projects, promotions, and monetary awards, with especially memorable feedback coming from direct managers and from senior leaders or CEOs whose personal acknowledgment can become a career highlight. 

Feedback delivered at least weekly helps reinforce organizational values and recent achievements, making everyday appreciation a core part of workplace culture and strengthening engagement and loyalty over time.

Source: https://journalrecord.com/2025/11/24/oklahoma-workplace-recognition-retention-gallup-express-survey/

So, the question for our readers is: Are You Praising Your Employees Enough?

Here is the opinion of one of the McCalmon editorial staff:

Jack McCalmon, Esq. 

Praise is essential to effective management, but the appropriate level of praise should be tailored to the individual employee. Some employees seek more frequent and explicit recognition than others, and leadership must understand these differences to be effective. Long?tenured employees who handle critical responsibilities often interpret increased authority and autonomy as a meaningful form of praise, even when recognition is not expressed weekly. By contrast, new-to-the-workforce employees generally benefit from more consistent verbal praise to reinforce performance and confirm that they are progressing on the right path.

You can answer our poll. Please note any comments provided may be shared with others.