How Recognition Can Help Reduce Stress and Burnout

The bottom line

Employees receiving the right amount of recognition were up to 90% less likely to report constant burnout, suggesting recognition adequacy is one of the cheapest levers associated with burnout risk. For leaders, calibrating recognition frequency is actionable this quarter without budget approval. The research is vendor-funded and correlational, so the striking figure should be read as association, not effect size.

What the source found

Joint Gallup and Workhuman analysis finding employees who receive the right amount of workplace recognition are up to 90% less likely to report being burned out 'always' at work, and roughly twice as likely to report experiencing genuine gratitude the previous day compared to employees who receive inadequate recognition.

Limitations and applicability

Industry-funded research (Workhuman is a recognition platform vendor); potential publication bias; survey-based correlation, not causal; methodology details require direct access to full report.

Population and setting

General workforce employees (Gallup/Workhuman survey data)

Used in FairShare guides

• What the Evidence Says About Gratitude and Retention

About this evidence

Research question / practical issue

How does this source inform Evidence-Based Wellness for the population it studied?

Study design, evidence tier, and source class

Industry Research Report · context source · evidence tier 3

Source type: Industry Research Report · context · Evidence tier 3

Topics: Evidence-Based Wellness

Audience: Department Leaders, Wellness Leaders