How employee recognition can improve mental health
The workplace is rarely the root cause of poor mental health, but it can certainly exacerbate it to the point of heightening anxiety and depression, potentially leading to burnout.
Poor mental health is prevalent in many workplaces with contributing factors including demanding and emotionally draining work, and challenges balancing work with life.
While these factors can worsen mental health, it is often a lack of appreciation that makes it take a steep nosedive, both at work and in our private lives.
In the workplace, feeling taken for granted or anonymous are cited repeatedly by employees struggling at work.
It is often these feelings of being unacknowledged, or even outright ignored, that can seriously impact employees’ mental wellbeing.
The importance of making employees feel valued and recognised for their efforts and results can’t be understated.
Active recognition
Even when workloads are demanding, people can manage these with a greater sense of ease when they know and feel that their efforts are acknowledged and appreciated.
Not only this, but employees who actively recognise others at work are less likely to suffer with mental health issues.
This is supported by clinical research which establishes that thankfulness can improve mental health, with some medical practitioners prescribing the giving of gratitude as part of a patient’s treatment.
According to O.C. Tanner’s 2025 Global Culture Report, employees who gave recognition in the past 30 days reported significant decreases in the odds of burnout (57%), probable diagnosis of anxiety (24%), and probable diagnosis of depression (28%).
A culture of reciprocal and integrated appreciation in which recognition becomes commonplace across the whole of the organisation, is therefore key for making employees feel noticed, cared for, and important – positively impacting their everyday experience.
Recognition strategies should enable frequent, timely, and meaningful recognition that allows employees to express their gratitude and show appreciation in a variety of ways.
Thinking about the details
And when recognising others, employees must be encouraged to be specific and include the “what” and “why” behind the recognition – what did the individual specifically do that’s worthy of acknowledgement and why is it important to them and the bigger picture?
Adding thoughtful details and being genuine ensure recognition is both impactful and meaningful.
Giving and receiving recognition increases belonging, connection, and the feeling of being appreciated, counteracting many factors that lead to poor mental health.
And while recognition can never replace comprehensive mental health support, designing a recognition programme that is truly integrated into the workplace culture may well help destigmatise mental health issues and diminish the negative outcomes.
Supplied by REBA Associate Member, O. C. Tanner
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