Money talks, but gratitude goes further. A new study, commissioned by Motivosity and conducted by OnePoll, finds 55% of people prefer having personalized forms of gratitude given to them in the workplace. While 52% prefer raises and 28% would rather have a promotion, 2000 workers polled say hearing a simple "thank you" from others at work is far more valuable.
People like also receiving commendations in one-on-one conversations, earning “employee of the month” awards, being given a handshake, picking up a team-based award, or being given a shout-out via messaging apps or email. Employees want to see appreciation from their leaders — and that gratitude could make or break how long someone stays at their job. The study further reveals two in five working people don't feel appreciated by their bosses for the work they do, and 61% wish they were recognized more for their work.
In fact, 69% feel so unappreciated that they would consider leaving their job within the next three months unless their bosses don’t make changes to make them feel more appreciated. When asked what it would take for them to work for a different company, 64% of respondents say they’d jump ship for as little as a 10% pay increase. Similarly, 47% would leave for a different company for a mere 5% pay increase.
A third (32%) wouldn’t even need another company to offer them any more money to leave. Others were more specific in their requests. If offered a 20% raise, a defined pension plan, remote work.