British employees believe that the human element of being recognized and appreciated by their managers and their peers will increase in importance, while businesses turn to technologies such as AI to rationalize their recognition programs. This is the revelation of Recognition report of the State of the OC Tanner 2025who interviewed 2,815 employees, including 558 from the United Kingdom
Although the report stresses that British employees predict that their own commitment with digital recognition tools will increase, they do not want it to the detriment of the loss of the human element of recognition. In fact, British employees expect in person interactions with their recognition program to increase by 100% in the coming years – from 37% to 74%. These interactions include handwritten notes, thanks and price presentations.
“Technologies, including AI, are crucial for the success of employee recognition programs,” explains Robert Ordever, European Managing Director of the employee recognition specialist, OC Tanner. “However, recognition technologies should never replace the human element of recognition, but must be used judiciously to improve the efficiency and inclusiveness of appreciation.
Organization employees' recognition programs, who appreciate and reward employees for their efforts, results and career stages, are increasingly supported by digital platforms, including new AI technologies. These technologies range from precious recognition coaches that offer employees micro-coaching in real time to improve the quality of recognition donations, to fully automated systems that have effectively transformed recognition into a “transaction”. The latter includes “thank you” emails, which are automatically sent to employees when a project ends.
Ordever adds: “Organization employee recognition programs must always have the employee at the heart, ensuring that all technologies add real value by effectively supporting the significant and personalized donation of recognition. If the recognition programs become so automated that fear and emotion are lost, they have failed. ”
