A recent survey conducted by Reward Gateway reveals a stark contrast in perceptions between HR managers and employees regarding workplace recognition in Australia. While over three-quarters of HR managers believe that staff are consistently acknowledged at work, the majority of employees feel otherwise.
According to the survey, a significant 61% of employees feel unrecognised in their workplace, and 65% perceive a lack of appreciation in their relationship with their employers. These findings highlight a noticeable disparity between the viewpoints of employers and employees, underscoring the importance of recognition in fostering employee engagement.
Kylie Green, Managing Director of APAC for Reward Gateway, emphasises the significance of addressing this divide, stating, “Our index found that Australian employees have an engagement score of 6.2 out of 10, while that’s not terrible they’re not exactly thriving.” This misalignment is further evidenced by HR managers perceiving the employee engagement score to be significantly higher at 7.9.
Green emphasises the imperative for employers to bridge this gap, asserting that there is room for improvement in supporting employees to excel in their roles, thereby enhancing productivity and performance.
Recognition and rewards are crucial for maintaining employee engagement and productivity. Failing to bridge the gap between employer and employee perceptions may worsen disengagement.
The impact of recognition on employee retention is profound, with 35% of employees considering lack of recognition as a primary reason for seeking new job opportunities. Moreover, the survey highlights that organisations with underfunded reward and recognition programs experience higher turnover rates, with nearly half reporting rates of 11% or more.
Recognition is identified as a crucial driver of productivity by 33% of Australians surveyed. Additionally, factors such as fulfilling job responsibilities (41%) and strong, supportive leadership (38%) contribute significantly to employee productivity.
Green underscores the importance of recognition and rewards in sustaining employee engagement and productivity, warning that failure to address the disconnect between employer and employee perceptions may lead to further disengagement and employee turnover.
The survey, conducted as part of Reward Gateway’s Workplace Engagement Index, involved 1,000 HR managers and 1,000 employees across Australia.
