The 2025 State of Recognition report highlights a sharp decline in recognition frequency and its ripple effects on engagement and retention. Weekly recognition dropped from 29% to 19%, and manager recognition fell to 15%. Only 26% of employees feel engaged and just 22% plan to stay in their role next year. The research shows employees recognized weekly are 9x more likely to feel belonging, 6x more likely to envision a long-term career, and 2.6x more productive. Manager-led recognition drives the strongest outcomes, increasing trust up to 19x. The report calls for a “recognition reset,” urging organizations to shift from occasional praise to frequent, meaningful, and manager-driven recognition as a core business strategy.

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