Recognition That Sticks: The Psychology of Feeling Seen at Work

Niuz Bites

• Recognition is the most powerful — and most underused — tool for staff retention in senior care
• Employees who feel appreciated are more engaged, less burned out, and more likely to stay.
• Niuz makes meaningful recognition simple, visible, and scalable across your whole team.

This blog is a companion post to a webinar we’re hosting Thursday, July 24th called “The Recognition Effect”. You can register for that webinar by clicking here.

“Thank You” Isn’t Extra – It’s Essential

In long-term care, small things matter. A gentle tone. An extra towel. A calming touch. Your team delivers this level of care every day — often under stressful conditions. But what do they get in return?

Too often, it’s silence.

Recognition isn’t a “nice-to-have” in senior care — it’s a strategic imperative. According to Gallup, only one in three employees in the U.S. strongly agree that they’ve received recognition or praise for doing good work in the past seven days. Yet those who do are 5x more likely to feel connected to their culture and 4x more likely to be engaged at work.

Why Recognition Matters So Much in LTPAC

Frontline caregivers carry an emotional load that most roles simply don’t. They face grief, resistance, fear, and physical exhaustion — all while maintaining professionalism and compassion. When that work goes unnoticed, staff feel invisible.

Invisibility breeds burnout. Burnout breeds turnover.

In fact, a 2023 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) showed that lack of appreciation was cited as a top reason for quitting by over 68% of healthcare workers.

Recognition, when done right, is the cheapest and most effective retention strategy available.

What Recognition That Sticks Looks Like

Not all recognition works the same. The most effective programs (the ones that actually improve morale and retention) share four traits:

1. Timely: Say thank you when it happens, not at the end of the quarter.
2. Specific: “Thanks for stepping in when Susan called out — that really helped us stay on track.”
3. Public: When others see recognition happening, it reinforces what matters.
4. Consistent: Not just for “stars” — recognition should be a daily behavior, not an award.

This kind of recognition doesn’t just boost morale – it changes culture. It signals what’s valued. It encourages peer-to-peer engagement. And it’s contagious.

The Cost of Recognition Neglect

Recognition is often the first thing managers drop when they’re overwhelmed — which is understandable. But failing to acknowledge good work leads to:

• Lower morale
• Higher absenteeism
• Poorer care quality
• Weaker resident relationships
• Increased turnover

And the financial cost? According to Gallup, companies that emphasize recognition have 23% lower turnover and 27% higher profitability than those that don’t.

This isn’t soft stuff. This is ROI.

How Niuz Helps: Recognition That’s Daily, Visible, and Scalable

At Niuz, we built recognition into the foundation of our platform — not as a bonus feature, but as a core communication channel.

With the Niuz Recognition Feed, your team can:

• Post real-time kudos from any device
• Include in situ photos to demonstrate presence
• Tag peers, teams, or specific behaviours
• Track participation across shifts and roles
• NEVER have to print another “Employee of the Month” page for the bulletin board again

Recognition happens where your team already communicates. No log-in to a separate app. No paperwork. No missed opportunities.

Explore our recognition features > Click here

Don’t Underestimate the Power of “Thank You”

In senior care, where the work is personal and the pressures are high, recognition isn’t a luxury. It’s oxygen. It fuels your team’s motivation, connection, and commitment.

But like any strategy, it needs structure.

With Niuz, you can make appreciation a daily practice — not another admin task. And when your team feels seen, they stay.