From rarity to everyday: How to implement a culture of continuous appreciation in the company?
Appreciating employees is a key part of building engagement and motivation in the workplace. However, as it shows raport “Do you feel appreciated?” From 2025, 64% of respondents in Poland do not feel appreciated in their work. Moreover, for 43%, expressing appreciation is rare. How, then, to change this situation and make appreciation at work a daily practice?
The Importance of Regular Appreciation for Employee Engagement
Research confirms that appreciation in the workplace has a direct impact on employee engagement. For 35% of respondents, recognition made their work relevant, and 28% indicated that it increased their engagement. Lack of recognition, on the other hand, leads to frustration, decreased motivation and burnout. Importantly, regular appreciation not only improves team morale, but also strengthens relationships between employees.
Current state of appreciation culture
Analysis of the frequency of appreciation
Only 8% of employees experience appreciation on a daily basis, down 4 percentage points from the previous year. The most common forms of recognition are thanks for a job well done (36%) and praise from superiors (23%). Unfortunately, as many as 25% of respondents declare that they do not have any form of recognition.
Intergenerational differences
With age, the frequency of experiencing appreciation decreases. In the over-60s group, 67% of respondents had never experienced any form of appreciation. Younger employees (up to 24 years) are more likely to indicate the need for financial gratification (13%), while older generations prefer verbal thanks.
Building a Comprehensive Appreciation System
Diverse forms of recognition
An effective system should take into account various forms of appreciation: financial (e.g. bonuses), verbal (praise) and public (honors on the forum). It is crucial to adapt these forms to the individual preferences of the employees.
Adaptation to Generations
Younger generations value material aspects, such as bonuses or cafeteria benefits, while older workers expect more personal forms of recognition, such as the opportunity to share knowledge or thank their superiors.
Increase the frequency of appreciation
Daily Practices
Appreciation should become an integral part of the daily activities of the team. Regular team meetings with elements of appreciation or brief thanks during the meetings can significantly improve the working atmosphere.
Technology as support
Platforms like Enpulse make it possible to express appreciation instantly and democratize the appreciation process. This is especially important in remote and hybrid environments where direct contact is limited.
Individualization of the appreciation strategy
Cafeteria model
The introduction of the cafeteria system allows employees to choose their preferred forms of recognition from the available pool. This approach increases the satisfaction and effectiveness of activities.
Understanding the needs
Conducting surveys allows you to better understand the expectations of the team. For many people, a sense of purpose is key — employers should clearly communicate how a person's contribution affects the success of the organization.
Measuring effects and continuous improvement
Regular evaluation
Monitoring the effectiveness of implemented practices is essential. Tools like Enpulse offer the ability to study employee feedback and analyze engagement metrics.
A long-term approach
Building a culture of appreciation is a process that requires the systematicity and commitment of leaders. Transparency and fairness in awarding awards are the foundation of an effective system.
summary
Implementing a culture of continuous appreciation requires:
- Differentiation of forms of recognition,
- Regularity in the expression of appreciation,
- Adapting the strategy to the needs of different generations,
- Use of technology to automate processes,
- Monitoring of the effects and their continuous improvement.
The benefits are enormous: more engagement, lower turnover and a better atmosphere in the workplace. More detailed data and recommendations can be found in report “Do you feel appreciated?”.
