--- title: What is Employee Recognition? | Reward Gateway description: The real definition of employee recognition is that it fills our most basic human needs — a sense of feeling accomplished and also fulfilled. Learn more! image: https://www.rewardgateway.com/hubfs/Louis%20Kwakye%20-%20Nnamdi%20Anyanwu-6333%20%281%29.jpg --- [![Logo-svg](https://www.rewardgateway.com/hubfs/Logo-svg.svg "Logo-svg")](https://www.rewardgateway.com/) Click to toggle Site Search # What is Employee Reward and Recognition?  ## How to define Employee Recognition, once and for all ![what-is-employee-recognition](https://www.rewardgateway.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Louis%20Kwakye%20-%20Nnamdi%20Anyanwu-6333%20(1).jpg?width=500&name=Louis%20Kwakye%20-%20Nnamdi%20Anyanwu-6333%20(1).jpg) There are many definitions out there as to what employee recognition is. Some label it as employee appreciation, employee motivation or just another form of employee engagement. And they’re not wrong. But the real definition of employee recognition is that done correctly, it fills some of the most basic human needs — a sense of belonging, feeling accomplished and also feeling fulfilled. ![maslow](https://www.rewardgateway.com/hs-fs/hubfs/maslow.jpg?width=450&name=maslow.jpg)[*Original Source*](https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html) That’s why it’s so important to link your [employee recognition tactics](https://www.rewardgateway.com/blog/easy-ways-to-recognize-staff) and [employee recognition strategy](https://www.rewardgateway.com/blog/video-top-tips-on-how-to-set-your-employee-recognition-strategy) to those directional points in your business, namely that of your purpose, mission and values. When employee recognition is confused too much with the “carrot and the stick” approach, it decreases the positive impact employee recognition programs will have on a business’s bottom line. So how do we actually **define employee recognition**? | **Employee recognition is the act of showing appreciation and acknowledgement for employees for contributions to the business that links to the company’s purpose, mission and values.** | | --- | Employee recognition can take on various forms, such as [peer-to-peer recognition,](https://www.rewardgateway.com/peer-to-peer-recognition) manager-led recognition and leadership-led recognition. But what’s critical to employee recognition success is making sure that employee reward and recognition tactics are delivered in a way that makes recognition: - **Meaningful** - **Unified** - **Shine through a Spotlight ** - **Timely**     By introducing continuous recognition and linking it to an organization’s purpose, mission and values, employers can drive values-led behavior that impacts business strategy and goals in a meaningful, tangible way. **For more on this, download our highlight on the different levels of employee recognition, which we like to call our Recognition Pyramid. ** **Products** - [Employee Engagement Platform](https://www.rewardgateway.com/smarthub-employee-engagement-platform) - [Employee Recognition Program](https://www.rewardgateway.com/solution/employee-recognition-program) - [Peer-to-Peer Recognition](https://www.rewardgateway.com/solution/peer-to-peer-recognition) - [Employee Rewards](https://www.rewardgateway.com/solution/employee-rewards) - [Manager-Led Rewards](https://www.rewardgateway.com/solution/manager-rewards) - [Reward Redemption](https://www.rewardgateway.com/solution/reward-redemption) - [Custom Rewards](https://www.rewardgateway.com/solution/custom-rewards) - [Employee Communications Platform](https://www.rewardgateway.com/internal-communications-system) - [Employee Discounts](https://www.rewardgateway.com/employee-discounts-program) - [Employee Surveys](https://www.rewardgateway.com/employee-surveys) - [Engaged Index](https://www.rewardgateway.com/solution/engaged-index) - [Employee Wellbeing](https://www.rewardgateway.com/solution/wellbeing)   **Company** - [Our Mission](https://www.rewardgateway.com/company/overview) - [Careers](https://careers.rewardgateway.com) - [Awards & Accolades](https://www.rewardgateway.com/award-winning-employee-engagement-solutions) - [Diversity](https://careers.rewardgateway.com/an-inclusive-culture) - [Leadership Team](https://www.rewardgateway.com/leadership) - [Brand Guidelines](http://rg.co/brand) - [Social Value Strategy](https://www.rewardgateway.com/social-value-strategy-example) - [Social Value Partners](https://www.rewardgateway.com/examples-of-social-value-partners) - [MoveSpring](https://movespring.com/) **Resources ** - [Resource Center](https://www.rewardgateway.com/resource-center) - [Events](https://www.rewardgateway.com/events-and-webinars) - [Case Studies](https://www.rewardgateway.com/case-study-library) - [Press Releases](https://www.rewardgateway.com/press-releases) - [Customer Success & Support](http://success.rewardgateway.com/) - [Accessibility Statement](https://www.rewardgateway.com/accessibility-statement) **Learn more on:** [ISO 27001 Certified: Ensuring Your Data's Security and Integrity ![BSI and ISO certificate](https://www.rewardgateway.com/hubfs/information-security/ISO_IEC-27001_2022-150px.png) ](https://trust.rewardgateway.com/) **Reward Gateway Integrations **[Open API](https://docs.rewardgateway.net/) | [Yapster](https://www.rewardgateway.com/integrations/yapster-employee-communications) | [Amazon](https://www.rewardgateway.com/integrations/amazon-employee-reward-and-recognition) | [MS Teams ](https://www.rewardgateway.com/integrations/microsoft-teams-recognition) | [Slack](https://www.rewardgateway.com/slack-integration-instructions) | [All Integrations](https://www.rewardgateway.com/examples-of-reward-gateway-platform-integrations)** Topics** [Employee Reward and Recognition Program](https://www.rewardgateway.com/employee-reward-and-recognition-program)  |  [Employee Incentive Program ](https://www.rewardgateway.com/topics/employee-incentive-program)  |  [Employee Experience Platform ](https://www.rewardgateway.com/topics/employee-experience-platform) |  [Social Recognition ](https://www.rewardgateway.com/topics/social-recognition) |  [Corporate Rewards ](https://www.rewardgateway.com/topics/corporate-rewards) |  [Internal Communications App](https://www.rewardgateway.com/topics/internal-communications-app)  Copyright © 2024. 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