Employee Recognition Ideas to Boost Your Employee Retention Strategies

Strong employee retention strategies are key to any Canadian company’s success – and employee recognition ideas should be near the top of that list. A Robert Half survey of 1,500 Canadian workers found that 73 per cent agree that receiving recognition for their contributions influences their decision to stay with their employers.

By prioritizing employee recognition and celebrating achievements, Canadian organizations can boost worker morale and create a positive culture, which in the long run can increase job satisfaction and retention.

How employee recognition shapes the employee retention definition

There’s no denying that the top methods of employee retention are money and time. According to research for the 2025 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half, just over half – 51 per cent – of Canadian professionals feel underpaid, with one third planning to look for a new job if they don’t receive a raise this year.

Flexible work accommodations are a close second – our Salary Guide research also found that 32 per cent of Canadian professionals are looking for a new job because they want more flexibility, while 34 per cent of employees who aren’t seeking a new job are staying put because they don’t want to give up their current level of flexibility.

However, the survey of 1,500 Canadian workers mentioned above also found that variations of both are the top forms of recognition among Canadian professionals, with nearly half – 46 per cent each – citing small tokens of appreciation such as gift cards and extra time off as their favourite methods.

Other employee recognition ideas favoured by Canadian professionals include:

Verbal praise during one-on-one meetings: 40 per cent

Increased schedule flexibility: 36 per cent

Public recognition such as corporate awards or announcements during team meetings: 32 per cent

Written appreciation including emails or written notes: 29 per cent

The most popular employee recognition ideas among Canada’s employers

Fortunately, our research also indicates that Canada’s employers recognize employee recognition as an employee retention synonym. Our survey of 1,500 Canadian workers, for example, found that 74 per cent of Canadian professionals feel adequately recognized by their manager.

Meanwhile, research for the 2025 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half found that at least one third of Canadian employers plan to incorporate the below into their employee retention strategies, with nearly 40 per cent prioritizing employee recognition:

Increased compensation: 44 per cent

Enhanced professional development offerings: 42 per cent

Increased recognition efforts: 38 per cent

Allowing employees to work remotely part-time: 37 per cent

Offering retention bonuses contingent on remaining with the company for a predetermined amount of time: 35 per cent

Accelerating promotions or job title changes: 34 per cent

Employee recognition ideas to incorporate into your employee retention strategies

With Administrative Professionals Week on the horizon, now is the perfect time to develop and implement new employee retention strategies to make sure some of your most indispensable workers know they’re appreciated and that you like having them around.

If you’re unsure where to begin, here are 5 employee recognition ideas to get you started:

Celebrate important milestones: Get together, whether in person or virtually, to recognize achievements. If office festivities include food, arrange for treats to be delivered to remote colleagues.

Publicize wins: Acknowledge employees’ contributions in a certificate or an email and copy key executives. Feature top performers in the company newsletter for more exposure.

Give the gift of time: Consult with your HR and legal departments for this one, and if approved, encourage team members to log off early after completing a big project and offer additional time off or extra vacation days for jobs well done.

Provide new opportunities: Invite employees to mentor others and introduce new leaders to management. Interview and promote from within and encourage team members to pursue growth opportunities in the company.

Offer a monetary reward: Award a one-time bonus or financial incentive to individuals or teams who meet specific goals or metrics.

Need more employee recognition ideas? Check out our blog for Administrative Professionals Day.

Using any of the tactics above to acknowledge the efforts of your hardworking team will go a long way in supporting your employee retention strategies. Even if your budget is limited, there are many ways to celebrate employee success that will have a lasting impact. Implementing effective employee recognition ideas can a win-win for both Canadian workers and employers.

Want more advice? Get time-tested management tips for increasing productivity and morale so your workers feel valued and want to stay with your company. Visit Robert Half Canada Management tips.

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