In Ireland, giving thanks is part of our cultural DNA. Whether it’s a kind word for a bus driver or heartfelt gratitude for a neighbour’s help, we grow up understanding the importance of appreciation. It’s that spirit of gratitude that is the foundation on which HR tech company Workhuman, the largest Irish-born tech company, and leading employee recognition platform in the world, is built.
As we celebrate Employee Appreciation Day today, now is the perfect time to explore the incredible power of those thank you’s in the workplace – not just to create happier employees but also to provide deep insights that help organisations better understand and develop the strengths of their employees and culture.
Founded in Dublin by Irishman Eric Mosley 25 years ago, Workhuman is a company that has its roots in a simple yet profound idea: employees thrive most when they feel seen, valued, and appreciated. Appreciation must go beyond a payslip or a pat on the back, they say. It should also help to cultivate purpose, human connection and alignment around shared values. And the data that comes from it can be truly revolutionary.
“When done right, recognition isn’t just an act of kindness or politeness,” explains Mosley, chief executive of Workhuman, “It’s a powerful driver of performance, morale and culture in global teams. It’s also an incredible tool for understanding what is happening in a company. Because it aligns every recognition moment with one of your company values – which reinforces what matters most to your organisation and the humans in it.”
From its start, Workhuman set out to rewrite the book on employee appreciation. It wanted to transform how organisations say thanks, moving away from outdated rewards like branded swag or a pizza party and focusing instead on meaningful, personalised recognition and rewards that are connected to a company’s values.
Employee recognition programmes, like those pioneered by Workhuman, work by providing a platform for peers to share moments of gratitude with others and sharing messages of appreciation for their work. Employees can easily recognise and reward outstanding work at all levels by nominating colleagues for awards. The power comes in the details – when recognition is done right, employees take the time to write specific messages of gratitude that are personalised, authentic and fulfilling.
Imagine receiving a recognition message like this: “Thank you for stepping up and leading the presentation on such short notice. Your insights and calm approach made a real impact, and the client left with a great impression of us. We couldn’t have done it without you!”
This positive reinforcement could also come with peer congratulations and a tangible reward for, say, 500 points, that employees can redeem through Workhuman’s world-class ecommerce store. That could be for meaningful physical goods, or gift cards from many of the world’s leading brands, and a range of experiences, including flights, hotels, or even local adventures. The Workhuman store ranks as one of the top 30 global ecommerce retail stores, with merchandise, charitable giving, experiences, and store gift cards available in more than 150 countries – and an order is placed every two and a half seconds.
For example, during a trip to Prague, one Michelin employee used their points to book a Harley electronic trike motorcycle tour for her family. That built a lasting memory that reinforced her terrific work and her connection to her peers and organisation.
This kind of recognition works. According to Gallup and Workhuman research, employees who receive the right amount of recognition are up to 84 per cent more likely to thrive in their roles. Additionally, 45 per cent of well-recognised employees are less likely to leave within two years.
“When gratitude is at the heart of an organisation’s culture, you see it reflected in measurable ways – higher safety scores, lower turnover, and significant cost savings. A culture of appreciation turns into a culture of excellence, where people feel valued and motivated to bring their best, leading to stronger performance and a more resilient organisation. And we believe so much in what we do that we are the only HR vendor in the space that guarantees our results.”
But there is more, says Mosley. Appreciation also uncovers a gold mine of information on people’s behaviours, values, and cultural drivers fuelling success. “Every recognition moment contains a whole story about how work gets done, what skills people have, and what truly matters within a team or organisation,” Mosley explains.
This wealth of data is the foundation of Human Intelligence, Workhuman’s approach to combining AI with authentic human data to unlock transformative insights.
By analysing millions of recognition moments, Human Intelligence reveals hidden patterns in workforce dynamics, including collaboration, skills, and cultural health. “Recognition is the data source and the source of truth,” Mosley observes. “Human Intelligence turns it into action. That’s why it’s so critical to collect this data and to ensure that recognition is done right.”
Recognition done right, says Mosley, means recognition that is “everyone-to-everyone”, has a tangible value commensurate with the contribution, is equitable and personalised, includes guidance within the recognition award process to increase meaning and minimise bias, and is embedded fully within the culture and business strategy.
Gathering these insights provides a forward-looking view that helps leaders identify high performers, predict retention risks, and ensure every employee’s contributions are seen and valued, says Mosley. “Traditional HR metrics are largely retrospective and can build in bias,” he explains. “Human Intelligence is different – it offers real-time, crowdsourced insights that enable smarter, faster decisions for leaders and better outcomes for employees.”
Human Intelligence is the culmination of Workhuman’s decades-long leadership in the HR tech space, where it has risen to be the world’s number one employee recognition platform. “We help the world’s most iconic enterprises – like PepsiCo, ADP, Cisco, Merck and LinkedIn – create cultures where people are motivated to do their best work, as well as happier and more productive workplaces. In fact, our software facilitates a recognition moment every two seconds for seven million employees in more than 180 countries,” Mosley points out. “That’s a lot of gratitude – and a lot of insight.”
As Workhuman continues to integrate AI into recognition, Mosley envisions a future where technology amplifies humanity. “AI can’t be a replacement for human judgment – it’s a tool to supercharge it,” he says. By providing actionable insights that align recognition with organisational goals and values – like employee appreciation, Workhuman’s programmes help leaders build stronger, more resilient organisations.
And yet, the real power of Workhuman lies in something timeless (and in true Irish tradition): the simple act of saying thank you. And that’s something the company is so confident about, they guarantee it.
As we celebrate Employee Appreciation Day on March 7th, one thing is clear: gratitude has come a long way from being a polite cultural tradition – it’s actually a powerful force shaping the future of work. “Through every thank you, we create stronger connections, deeper purpose and more aligned organisations,” Mosley says. “In the end, appreciation may prove the key to creating a future where both innovation and humanity can thrive.”
