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 culture in retaining and engaging employees. The research, which surveyed 5,538 employees, managers, and executives, found that 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 benefits, 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 despite 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.' He emphasized that organizations thriving in 2026 are making culture a core part of their business strategy.
A key finding is the prevalence of 'data blindness': 59% of managers and executives do not know their Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS), a critical measure of engagement and loyalty. This lack of awareness makes it harder to identify issues before they impact retention and performance. The report advocates for using modern listening tools and analytics to move from guesswork to proactive cultural management.
Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com, stated, 'Strong workplace culture isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a key business driver.' The study provides actionable insights for HR leaders to address engagement gaps and create environments where employees thrive. For more details, the full report is available for download at HR Research Institute.
