A new study titled The State of Workplace Culture and Connection 2026, conducted by the HR Research Institute in partnership with Motivosity, underscores the critical role of workplace culture in retaining and engaging employees. Based on a survey of 5,538 employees, managers, and executives, the research highlights tangible benefits of strong cultures: employees in high-performing cultures are nearly 16 times more likely to receive meaningful recognition from managers weekly, over 9 times more likely to be recognized by peers, and more than 8 times as likely to have high trust in organizational leadership.
Despite these advantages, the study reveals persistent gaps. Over a third of employees report rarely receiving meaningful recognition from peers (35%) or managers (37%). Many feel disconnected from broader leadership even while enjoying strong ties with immediate teams. Scott Johnson, CEO and Founder of Motivosity, noted, "Culture is built through everyday moments of connection; not giving your people more stuff or a fully-stocked breakroom. This report confirms what we’ve long believed: when employees feel seen, valued, and connected, trust grows, engagement improves, and performance follows."
The research also identifies "data blindness" as a major issue: 59% of managers and executives do not know their Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS), a key measure of engagement and loyalty. This lack of awareness makes it harder to spot problems before they affect retention and performance. The report argues that culture is not just a feel-good concept but a strategic business driver. By using modern listening tools and analytics, organizations can move from guesswork to proactive cultural management, improving recognition, trust, and overall employee experience.
Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com, emphasized, "Strong workplace culture isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a key business driver. These findings highlight how HR leaders can better understand culture, address engagement gaps, and create workplaces where employees thrive and organizations succeed." The full report is available for download at hr.com/hrresearchinstitute.
Motivosity, the leading Recognition and Rewards solution, focuses on improving employee engagement to drive performance, retention, and business growth. The company’s platform enables frequent recognition, automates programs, and delivers meaningful rewards. HR.com and the HR Research Institute provide research to help over 2 million HR professionals make strategic decisions.
