U.K. employees believe that the human element of being recognised and appreciated by their managers and peers will surge in importance, as companies look to technologies like AI to streamline their recognition programmes.*

While the Report highlights that U.K. employees predict that their own engagement with digital recognition tools will grow, they don’t want this to be at the expense of losing the human element of recognition. In fact, U.K. employees expect in-person interactions with their recognition programme to increase by 100% over the next few years – from 37% to 74%. These interactions include handwritten notes, thank you cards and award presentations.

“Technologies, including AI, are crucial to the success of employee recognition programmes”, says Robert Ordever, European Managing Director of employee recognition specialist, O.C. Tanner. “However, recognition technologies must never replace the human element of recognition, but must be used wisely to enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of appreciation giving. It’s clear that employees crave the person-to-person element of recognition and this will only increase in importance as the world becomes more automated.”

Organisations’ employee recognition programmes, which appreciate and reward employees’ for their efforts, results and career milestones, are being increasingly supported by digital platforms, including new AI technologies. These technologies range from valued-adding recognition coaches that provide employees with real-time micro-coaching to improve the quality of recognition giving, through to fully automated systems that have effectively turned recognition into a ‘transaction’. The latter includes “thank you” emails, which are automatically sent to employees when a project wraps-up.

Ordever adds, “Organisations’ employee recognition programmes must always have the employee at the heart, ensuring any technologies add real value by effectively supporting the meaningful and personalised giving of recognition. If recognition programmes become so automated that the awe and emotion is lost, they’ve failed.”

Research from O.C. Tanner’s State of Employee Recognition Report 2025,

Surveyed 2,815 employees, including 558 from the U.K.