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The new report finds that consistent and meaningful recognition of workers at their posts will help retain the best and brightest, according to research by Gallup and Workhuman.  

Report research found that employees who get meaningful recognition for their work are 45 percent less likely to leave their jobs.  

Karen Litzinger, a career counselor based in Pittsburgh, Pa., agrees with the recent research.  “I frequently hear clients talk about wanting more appreciation at work. And even if the person likes the tasks at their job, it may not be fulfilling if it’s not a positive work environment,’’ she said.  

Because people are motivated by different things, Litzinger is quick to point out that some people may want and need more appreciation than others. “The best jobs are those that are a good fit with the employees interests and skills,” according to Litzinger, author of the award-winning book, Help Wanted: An A to Z Guide to Cope with the Ups and Downs of the Job Search.

The report also found that meaningful feedback changes how people feel about their work.  The report results were culled from tracking the career paths of more than 3,000 workers over two years.  Currently, there are more than 7.7 million unfilled jobs in the United States.   

The Labor Department reports that those unfilled jobs are partly the result of the COVID-19 pandemic that caused major disruptions in the labor force – something many have referred to as “The Great Resignation” in 2022, more than 50 million workers quit their jobs, following the 47.8 million in 2021.  

Other report findings include the fact that younger workers, who feel less attached to their workplace than their parents, have a higher expectation of appreciation.  Fortunately, Gallup and Workhuman’s report found 42 percent of senior leaders said their organizations value employees recognition up 28 percent in 2022.  

“I am not surprised that younger workers demand more recognition,’’ said Paula A. Calabrese, a writer and Pittsburgh consultant. “Older workers are more established and are self-starters.”  

“It is nice to be recognized but sometimes it is less about recognition and more about perks like every Friday is casual day,’’ Calabrese said.  “It also is not so much about where you work but who you work with.”  

The research also points to recognition as an antidote to stress. Gallup asked survey respondents if they felt stressed the previous day. Those who said they felt recognized on the job reported lower levels of stress and burnout than those who said they were not recognized. 

Studies show that stressful working conditions are actually associated with increased absenteeism, tardiness, and intentions by workers to quit their jobs – all of which have a negative impact on the bottom line. For hourly workers, the cost of turnover in companies is $1,500 per employee, the Labor Department said.