Vital Statistics
Research-backed data that proves the transformative power of employee recognition programs
Welcome Kits & Onboarding
69%
of employees are more likely to remain with a company for up to three years if they experience great onboarding.
Source: SHRM
54%
greater new-hire productivity experienced by organizations with a standard onboarding process.
Source: Aberdeen Group
50%
greater new-hire retention seen in organizations with a standard onboarding process.
Source: Aberdeen Group
90%
of new hires decide whether to stay with a company within their first six months, making effective onboarding critical.
Years of Service
Up to 213%
of an employee's annual salary can be the cost of replacing them, making retention a financial imperative.
Source: Center for American Progress
31%
lower voluntary turnover is seen in companies with modern, effective recognition programs.
Source: Bersin by Deloitte
52%
less turnover among employees who participate in workplace giving and volunteer programs compared to those who don't.
Source: Corporate Volunteerism Research
65%
of job seekers actively look for employers with strong social consciousness and community involvement.
Performance Recognition
21%
increase in productivity is seen in organizations that prioritize and effectively implement employee recognition.
Source: Achievers
85%
of employees report being more motivated when management offers regular feedback, recognition, and rewards.
Source: Deloitte
96%
of companies find that employees who volunteer are more engaged than those who don't participate in company programs.
Source: Corporate Volunteerism Study
71%
of employees believe it's important to work at a company that gives back through philanthropy and volunteering.
Source: Corporate Volunteerism Research
Wellness Programs
$3.27
is the average return for every $1 invested in wellness programs, due to reduced medical costs.
Source: CDC
28%
reduction in sick days is experienced by companies with comprehensive wellness programs.
Source: Harvard Business Review
3x
more likely to be engaged at work are employees who feel their company genuinely cares about their well-being.
Source: Gallup
80%
of companies are planning to digitize their HR efforts, including wellness tracking and employee health programs.
Source: 2025 Employee Recognition Trends
Spot Recognition
Weekly
recognition is the frequency Gallup suggests is most effective for reinforcing positive behaviors and making employees feel valued.
Source: Gallup
69%
of employees say they would work harder if they felt their efforts were better appreciated.
Source: Bucketlist Rewards
40%
reduction in voluntary turnover can be achieved by organizations with effective, regular recognition programs.
Source: Bucketlist Rewards
17%
drop in absence rates seen by manufacturing organizations using text-based attendance tracking software.
Source: TeamSense Absenteeism Study
Peer-to-Peer Recognition
14%
improvement in individual performance can result from direct feedback and recognition from peers.
Source: Achievers via Terryberry
35.7%
more likely to have a positive impact on financial results is peer-to-peer praise compared to manager-only recognition.
Source: SHRM/Globoforce via GiftAFeeling
41%
of companies using peer recognition saw an increase in customer satisfaction, linking internal culture to external success.
Source: SHRM via Terryberry
Point-Based Rewards
50%
higher volunteer hours per person in companies that offer reward programs for volunteer activities.
40%
of Fortune 500 companies offer volunteer grant programs that reward employee community service with points or donations.
Source: Corporate Volunteerism Research
$8-$15
per hour volunteered is contributed by 80% of companies with volunteer grant programs as reward incentives.
Source: Corporate Volunteerism Study
197%
increase in volunteer rewards seen by Principal Financial after redesigning their program to be more accessible and rewarding.
General Awards
90%
of employees who participate in skills-based volunteering are excited to donate their professional expertise again within the next year.
80%
of young Americans base purchasing decisions on a brand's mission or purpose, making company awards and recognition programs crucial.
Source: CSR Success Stories Research
74%
would boycott brands that go against their personal values, emphasizing the importance of authentic recognition programs.
Source: CSR Success Stories Research
11%
valuation premium enjoyed by companies recognized as leaders in environmental, social, or governance matters.
Source: CSR Success Stories Research
Incentive Programs
60%
of companies offer paid volunteer time off (VTO) as an incentive, recognizing community service as valuable work.
Source: Corporate Volunteerism Research
94%
of companies with employee engagement programs now run volunteering initiatives as part of their incentive strategies.
57%
year-over-year increase in volunteering participation when companies implement structured incentive programs.
70%
of employees said their personal sense of purpose is defined by their work, making purpose-driven incentives critical.
Attendance Recognition
41%
reduction in unscheduled absences is seen in companies with attendance recognition programs.
Source: SHRM
2.8x
more likely to recommend their workplace are employees who improve their attendance by 15% or more.
Source: Gallup
3.2%
was the national absence rate in 2024, up from 3.1% in 2023, with injury and illness being the leading causes.
Safety Recognition
52%
fewer workplace incidents are experienced by companies with robust safety recognition programs.
Source: National Safety Council
85%
higher rate of safety suggestions in workplaces that actively recognize and reward safety contributions.
Source: Workplace Safety Research
40%
lower workers' compensation costs are reported by companies with strong safety recognition.
Source: National Safety Council
2.8%
absenteeism rate in the manufacturing industry, where injury and illness are leading causes of absences.
Community Impact
83%
of millennials consider a company's purpose and community impact when deciding where to work.
Source: Deloitte
38%
higher employee satisfaction is reported by companies with active community engagement programs.
Source: Points of Light Foundation
16%
higher performance is shown by purpose-driven employees in organizations with a clear community mission.
Source: Harvard Business Review
9.2%
global average volunteering participation rate among employees, representing a 57% increase from the previous year.
Patient Care Recognition
12%
improvement in patient satisfaction scores at hospitals with robust recognition programs.
31%
lower voluntary turnover in organizations with strong recognition programs compared to those without.
Volunteer Recognition
89%
of employees report higher engagement when their employer recognizes volunteer efforts and community service.
70%
stronger positive company reputation among organizations that actively recognize and support employee volunteerism.
83%
of millennials would consider leaving a company that doesn't align with their values, making volunteer recognition crucial for retention.
2.3x
more likely to attract purpose-driven talent when companies recognize and celebrate employee volunteer efforts.
Key Insights from Recognition Data
Recognition Drives Retention
Companies with strong recognition programs see 31% lower turnover and employees are 5x more likely to stay when they feel appreciated.
Immediate Impact Matters
Immediate recognition increases behavior repetition by 70%, making spot recognition a powerful tool for reinforcing positive behaviors.
Safety & Attendance ROI
Safety recognition programs reduce incidents by 52% while attendance recognition cuts unscheduled absences by 41%, creating substantial business value.
Purpose-Driven Engagement
83% of workers consider company purpose when choosing employers, and community impact programs drive 38% higher employee satisfaction.