If there were an Olympics for rewards and recognition (R&R), many organizations would be standing proudly on the podium. Our research shows that seven in ten organizations have built strong recognition cultures, and eight in ten offer robust rewards programs. Just like world class athletes, companies have put in the effort and refined their strategies.

But the competition never stops. The best don’t settle for just making it to the podium, they push for new records, refine their performance, and find new ways to stay ahead. Even with strong R&R programs in place, there is always an opportunity to make recognition more meaningful, personal, and impactful.

To better understand the current state and future of R&R, this report explores:

• The perceived level of effectiveness of R&R programs
• The top drivers of R&R and how programs are designed and implemented
• The most favored rewards and recognition among employees
• Which metrics organizations track in relation to R&R, and the extent that R&R intersect with employee performance
• How R&R may evolve over the next two years, and the extent that AI will play a role
• The practices typically associated with more successful R&R programs