Using psychometric testing to evaluate employees’ implicit and explicit evaluations of employee experience, representatives of Reward Gateway Edenred surveyed nationally representative samples of employees from the UK (1,040 employees), US (1,060 employees) and Australia (1,252 employees).
The results of those surveys fed into the creation of Reward Gateway Edenred's Appreciation Index, which allocates the UK a score of 61.8. In comparison, the US scored 66.3 and Australia scored 66.8.
Two thirds (66%) of UK employees reported that they felt recognised by their manager, the research found.
Hierarchical workplace culture in the UK could be the reason for employees feeling less appreciated, according to Miika Mäkitalo, CEO of customer feedback software provider HappyOrNot.
“Cultural norms and workplace traditions significantly influence how appreciation is expressed and perceived,” he told HR magazine.
“In the UK, the professional culture often emphasises formality and hierarchy, which can make open recognition feel less natural or frequent.
“If organisations are focusing on goals from a top-down perspective, it can have a negative effect on company culture."
The number of employees looking to move roles over the next year could also suggest a lack of appreciation in workplaces, John McLaughlin, chief commercial officer EMEA and UK at management consultancy Aon, theorised.
In the UK 65% of employees have indicated they are either in the process of moving employers or looking for new employment in the next 12 months, Aon’s Employee Sentiment Study, published on 14 January, showed. This compared with 60% of employees globally.
HR is responsible for creating a people strategy that enables a culture of appreciation, Nebel Crowhurst, Reward Gateway's chief people officer and chief appreciation officer, told HR magazine.
She said: “The people strategy is the main enabler of creating a culture of appreciation.
“[HR should build] a strategy that is based on data and insights gathered from employee voice, stakeholder insights and people analytics to ensure the people initiatives offered are in line with what each unique organisational workforce wants and needs.”
Appreciation should start at the onboarding stage, Jonathan Firth, vice president of recruitment solutions at management consultancy LHH, stated.
Speaking to HR magazine, he said: “Ensuring that staff feel appreciated should start from day one, which begins with a robust onboarding process.
"New joiners can benefit from online learning hubs and access to networking groups. This approach shows appreciation for talent and individual career development needs, setting the scene for a long-term future with the company."
The gender of employees and the sector they work in also impacts appreciation levels, Reward Gateway Edenred’s research has showed. While 80% of men reported feeling appreciated, this fell to 70% of women.
Gen Z employees are twice as likely to quit their jobs due to poor feedback than Boomer employees, according to research from technology company Brother, published in October 2024.
HR professionals should focus on diversity and inclusion in their workforce, to ensure employees feel appreciated, Crowhurst advised.
She said: “We see from the UK results overall that, men, those who identify as neurotypical, and those in more senior roles, typically feel more appreciated, compared to women, those who are neurodiverse and employees in more junior roles.
“To drive up appreciation within our organisations, we need to consider the differing needs of our diverse workforces through the personalisation of people solutions and employee benefits in order to meet the unique needs of our people.”
HR is responsible for equipping managers with the tools to make employees feel appreciated, Mäkitalo noted.
He commented: “HR should empower managers with tools and training to embed appreciation into everyday actions. It is the role of HR to help managers recognise their role in supporting employees to achieve their goals and take steps forward in their career.”
Personalised feedback could be key to appreciation, he continued.
Mäkitalo added: “Simple gestures such as personalised feedback, celebrating milestones or using technological tools like anonymous employee feedback terminals can create a culture of open feedback and recognition.
“Often, real-time feedback can uncover hidden pain points and drive actionable improvements, creating environments where appreciation is a natural part of the culture.”
Nearly nine in 10 (88%) of employees in the UK said they work harder when they are appreciated for the work they do, while 91% said they are more engaged and 92% reported higher satisfaction with their job.
HR professionals should also ensure that managers communicate pay and benefits to employees, McLaughlin suggested.
Speaking to HR magazine, he said: “Compensation and benefits remains the primary driver for why we choose an employer and choose to stay with an employer.
“Managers play a crucial role in communicating and ensuring that what is our highest spend item as a company actually lands in the best way possible, is understood and utilised.”
Aon surveyed 9.202 people between the ages of 18 and 64 in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, the UAE, the UK and the US in August 2024.
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