• Employee recognition has dropped significantly year-on-year, driving widespread disengagement and reduced productivity
• Only 23% of employees feel meaningfully recognised at work, with over half recognised just a few times yearly or less
• Just 26% feel engaged and 23% feel enthusiastic about their jobs, contributing to a $438 billion global disengagement crisis
• Weekly recognition has dropped sharply, though quarterly recognition has doubled, suggesting employees want to recognise others but lack tools or time
• Employees receiving weekly recognition are 9 times more likely to feel belonging, 6 times more likely to see a long-term career path, and 2.6 times more likely to be productive
• Only 15% say their manager regularly recognises them (down from 20% last year)
• When recognised by managers, employees are up to 19 times more likely to trust them and 16.5 times more likely to recommend the company
• The study surveyed 3,600 employees globally in 2025
Source: 2025 State of Recognition report from Achievers Workforce Institute
