What You'll Find Inside

Recognition Supports Retention


Well-recognized employees are more likely to stay with their organization, reinforcing the importance of recognition in modern benefits.

Program Design Supports Participation


Flexible, accessible programs consistently drive higher employee retention and engagement, even more than higher monetary value.

Benefits Must Be Connected


Integrating recognition within a broader benefits plan creates a stronger, more connected employee experience where resources are equitable.
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Trends Defining Recognition Programs for Employers and Employees

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15% higher retention among employees who engage with Espresa’s recognition program
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Less than 45% of recognitions were monetary, proving that strong recognition doesn’t need high dollars to succeed
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60% of recognitions came from managers, showing that they are more active than leaders or more junior employees
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Programs with a Recognition Marketplace exceed all other program types on participation by 30%, showing that employees enjoy a unified experience
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Under programs with a marketplace, non-monetary programs are the second largest engagement, showing that money does not define these programs

Espresa’s Impact and Data Setup

Espresa’s 2026 Recognition Benchmark and Trends Report provides HR leaders, benefits consultants, and total rewards professionals with data and insights into the evolving world of employee recognition programs.

This report includes data from the full 2025 calendar year and 2026 year-to-date through July. The dataset represents hundreds of thousands of eligible employees across organizations in dozens of countries.

Personal Benefits

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Looking For More Insights?

Access Espresa's 2026 LSA Benchmark and Trends Report for the key insights shaping employee benefits and how programs are adapting to employer cost pressures.

Learn about the LSA Report
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Built for Global Enterprises

Our team has embraced the new program because it’s easy to use, meaningful, and part of how we recognize each other every day.
– Laura Robbins, CHES, CWWS, Health & Wellbeing Manager, MaineHealth
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