Source: theHRDIRECTOR
Date: January 2007

Research from mobile communications company O2 reveals that employees stay in their jobs longer and work harder if they feel appreciated at work:
• 84% of workers said they would be more loyal to their companies
• 71% of employees said they would work harder
• 100% of workers said they would stay in their jobs longer.

At present, it seems employers don’t appear to recognise their employees’ efforts:
• Just under 50% of UK employees have never been thanked by their companies
• However, line managers are better at recognising their subordinates than companies: 71% employees get thanked by their direct bosses
• A quarter of workers were thanked verbally when they had done well
• Just under 16% had been thanked via email
• Approximately 26% received gifts such as chocolate or discounts to tourist attractions to recognise their efforts.

When asked what sort of acknowledgement employees would like to receive when their companies thank them, one in four chose having an extra day off. Over three quarters of the UK workforce reported that they would feel more valued if their companies introduced small perks when they had done well. Dominic Mahony, HR director, O2 UK comments: “The loyalty message in this research is clear. Companies need to be seen to recognise the efforts that employees make to ensure their success and, if they do, those employees will reward them by staying in their jobs longer and going the extra mile when required.