4 Ways to Enhance Employee Wellbeing Through Recognition
Discover a few ways recognition fosters employee mental health and wellness.
Organizations have many opportunities for growth in leveraging recognition as a wellness strategy. Recognition improves wellbeing both at and outside work. Here, Gallup provides an in-depth analysis of how recognition fosters wellness and significant employee outcomes, from boosting employees’ mental health to strengthening their sense of belonging.
Employee wellbeing refers to employees’ physical and emotional health resulting from dynamics within and occasionally beyond the workplace. These include their interactions with coworkers, how they use tools and resources, how big corporate choices affect them personally and professionally, and a variety of other things. Employee wellbeing is a crucial aspect because it has a significant impact on employee productivity, engagement, burnout, and turnover.
According to the 2022 Recognition Study conducted by Gallup and Workhuman involving more than 12,000 employees in 12 countries, rewarding employee recognition is linked to improved wellbeing in four major areas:
- Increased overall life evaluations
- Improved daily emotions
- Reduced levels of burnout
- Better social wellbeing
The report provides an overview of the relationships between employee recognition and wellbeing in the 12 countries examined. It explains how and how much appreciation is expressed in offices worldwide and highlights effective leadership techniques. Employees are nearly twice as likely to assess their lives and futures positively. About 90% of employees are less likely to claim to be “always” or “very often” burned out at work. Employees are up to twice as likely to say they were grateful the day before and around 40% less likely to say they were stressed, anxious, or depressed. Also, they are ten times more likely to agree that they belong strongly and seven times more likely to strongly think they have significant ties or a best friend at work.
The Power of Recognition To Promote Well-being
People want to be appreciated for their accomplishments regardless of where they work. With its “win-win” benefits for corporate outcomes and people’s general happiness and success in everything from their job to their energy levels to their social health and integration, recognition is a force for good in workplaces worldwide.
Multiple ways have been identified by the study that enhances employee wellbeing globally. It is important to consider how employees are treated at work. Employees recognized at work have a more favorable opinion of their life. Since they feel significant, valued, and sure that their work counts, it should be no surprise.
A culture of recognition improves all aspects of employee wellbeing, from social ties to professional aspirations. Employees who believe that recognition is a crucial component of their culture are, in fact, up to 91% more likely to flourish, says the report.
Recognition Boosts Employee Morale
Recognizing an employee’s accomplishments makes them feel good about themselves, their unique talents, and what they uniquely offer to the table. As a result, positive emotions are boosted. Whether it is a private note from a manager or a public reward for a team endeavor, this encouragement gives employees wind in their sails and makes them more resilient every day.
The study demonstrates that employees worldwide who receive frequent and excellent recognition at work are far less likely to say they experience a lot of stress, anxiety, or sadness. In most countries, 20% of employees strongly agree that they receive the right amount of recognition, and 40% of employees are less likely to say they have experienced many negative emotions.
Employee Recognition Prevents Burnout
High-quality recognition is highly linked to a lower incidence of burnout. When given the appropriate recognition at work, employees are frequently 50% less likely to say they are always or frequently burned out.
Employees who are burned out frequently or constantly do not provide their best effort at work are 63% more likely to skip work altogether and more than twice as likely to look for other employment opportunities.
Employee burnout can occur for a variety of reasons. However, employees are more resilient and less susceptible to burnout at work when they believe their efforts are recognized, acknowledged, and appreciated. They are inspired to extend their efforts a bit further; in an ideal world, doing so is rewarding rather than burdensome.
See More: Employee Burnout Is the New Pandemic: How Can You Support Your Employees?
The Impact of Recognition on Social Wellbeing
Low social wellbeing can be treated well with recognition, especially when it is freely given to all employees. Recognition strengthens ties, forges new connections, and draws people together. Lack of social relationships affects employees in more ways than their work performance. They are far more prone to have unfavorable life assessments and negative outlooks on the future. Employees are 13 times more likely to be in pain than their coworkers, who enjoy greater social wellbeing.
No matter where, when, or how they work, when employees strongly agree that recognition is an essential part of their organization’s culture, they feel closer to one another. These workers are up to seven times more likely to strongly agree that they have essential connections at work.
Employees have a common desire for wellbeing. It is a crucial basis for achieving organizational goals. The state of an individual’s wellbeing influences outcomes with high financial costs, such as lowering employee productivity and engagement and increasing the likelihood of burnout and attrition. Leaders need to be aware of the influence they have over wellbeing both at work and elsewhere.
How are you using recognition as a tool to enhance employee wellbeing at your organization? Share with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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