As AI becomes embedded in everyday work, new findings point to peer recognition as a practical way to strengthen human connection in 2027.
CALGARY, Alberta — November 10th, 2026 — As employers plan their 2027 workplace strategies, new research announced today from Kudos®, the employee recognition and rewards platform built to help organizations create stronger, more connected workplace cultures, reveals that the recognition employees value most often comes from the people working alongside them, not the C-suite or their manager. The study, titled Recognition That Lands, also highlights the importance of consistent, meaningful recognition in strengthening workplace relationships, fostering a sense of belonging, and building a more connected employee experience.
Key Findings:
- 33% say coworker recognition stands out most, versus 23% from managers and 17% from senior leaders.
- Employees recognized at least once a month report 2–3x stronger outcomes across belonging, engagement, and retention.
- Recognition has roughly twice the impact for employees in their first three years compared with those with 10+ years of tenure.
A Simple Shift for a More Connected Workplace in 2027
Employee engagement, well-being, and connection have been the most pressing workplace challenges in 2026. Gartner reports that fewer than 35% of employees have good levels of overall wellness, while Gallup finds that 22% of employees globally experience loneliness.
Kudos research shows a simple and powerful opportunity for employers heading into 2027: consistent recognition.
“Even as work becomes more digital and distributed, employees still want to feel seen, valued, and connected to the people around them,” said Muni Boga, president and CEO of Kudos. “Peer recognition helps make that part of everyday work. Companies can strengthen their culture by making it easy for employees to acknowledge one another, encouraging managers to lead by example, and creating regular moments to celebrate contributions. Recognition reinforces relationships, brings values to life, and helps people feel that their work truly matters.”
The research also shows that the moments employees value most are about each other: helping a teammate succeed, supporting someone through a difficult period, and noticing everyday contributions.
The Top 3 Recognition Moments
The data highlights three key moments when employees recognize their peers, reflecting the importance of both meaningful support and everyday contributions in the workplace.
- Helping a teammate succeed.
- Supporting someone through a difficult period.
- Noticing everyday contributions.
“Recognition has become an important way for us to bring our values to life and keep employees connected to one another in our remote-first work environment,” said Kenya Chatman, Senior Manager, People Business Partner at Make-A-Wish America. “We’ve seen that firsthand, with employees consistently citing our culture of recognition as a top reason for staying and voluntary turnover declining 6% year over year, all while keeping our team united around our shared mission to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.”
About the Study
The research was independently conducted by Leger Research and commissioned by Kudos, surveying 805 employees and 43 organizational leaders.
Download the full survey report here.
Media Contacts:
MSR Communications
Jordan Slade
Jordan@msrcommunications.com
Kudos®
Margaux Morgante
press@kudos.com
About Kudos
Kudos is a leading employee recognition and rewards platform that helps organizations build stronger cultures by celebrating achievements, fostering connection, and driving employee engagement.
Kudos has reimagined how organizations approach recognition, internal communications, and employee milestones. By empowering teams with flexible tools like automated celebrations, real-time insights, and powerful rewards budget management, organizations can introduce and scale meaningful recognition programs while reducing administrative effort.
Organizations in over 140 countries trust Kudos to create workplace cultures where employees feel seen, valued, and inspired to do their best work.
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