All workers would stay in their jobs longer if their companies thanked them for their hard work more often and more effectively, according to research by O2.

It found if companies were better at acknowledging when staff put extra effort in, 84% of workers would be more loyal to their employers and 71% would be more willing to go the extra mile when required.

The survey reveals that line managers are good at thanking their employees, but company-wide ‘thanks’ is less widespread.  71% of respondents do remember the last time their bosses rewarded them personally for hard work. In contrast, just under 50% of workers had either never been thanked by their companies or could not remember the last time.

A quarter of workers were thanked verbally when they had done well, 16% had been thanked via email, and 26% received gifts to recognise their efforts.

When asked what sort of acknowledgement employees would like to receive when their companies thank them, one in four chose having an extra day off. Over three quarters of the UK workforce reported that they would feel more valued if their companies introduced little perks when they had done well. 

Dominic Mahony, HR director of O2 UK says: “The loyalty message in this research is clear. Companies need to be seen to recognise the efforts that employees make to ensure their success and, if they do, those employees will reward them by staying in their jobs longer and going the extra mile when required.”