New data has revealed that appreciation of frontline workers in the UK has increased by 42% since 2021, when the so-called employee ‘Great Resignation’ first took hold.

The data – which spots trends in messages of appreciation and thanks from employers to their frontline team members from across 265 UK companies – reveals that this has grown from 377,000 in 2021, to 533,000 in 2023.

Industries leading the way in 2023 included the transport sector, which saw 328,000 messages of thanks and recognition shared with frontline employees across 14 organisations; and the healthcare sector where 78,000 were shared amongst employees across 8 organisations.

Blink’s data suggests UK companies have made significant strides in recognising and thanking frontline employees since 2021’s Great Resignation, where it was estimated that 41% of workers worldwide were intending on quitting their jobs.

Blink’s founder and CEO Sean Nolan says: “It seems like such an obvious thing, but actively recognising the work of your employees and saying ‘thank you’ on a regular basis can have a transformative effect on company culture.

“When we speak to frontline workers, one of the most common things they want more of in their work life is a feeling of recognition and appreciation – and understandably, it can be hard to achieve this when employers and employees aren’t connecting or communicating on a regular basis.

“However, it’s hugely encouraging to see that employee appreciation is clearly on the rise within many UK organisations, particularly those with a large frontline workforce. Just a simple message is often all it takes to inspire and motivate a team member, so we hope this is a trend that continues to build throughout 2024.”

*Research from Blink