Organizations are investing more in rewards than ever before—yet retention remains fragile, engagement is declining, and job exploration is widespread.
Why? Because rewards alone don’t drive outcomes.
How employees experience their work also determines whether rewards actually matter.
The 2026 State of Rewards Report reveals a critical shift in the workforce: employees’ beliefs—whether they find their work meaningful, feel they matter, and see opportunities to grow—are reshaping how rewards influence retention, engagement, and advocacy.
This WorldatWork study, conducted in partnership with Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) and International Thought Leader Network (ITLN), provides a new, evidence-based framework for understanding the true ROI of rewards in today’s labor market.
What This Research Covers
Based on a survey of 1,300+ employees and leaders, this study examines:
- Which rewards matter most across the employee lifecycle
- Where managers and employees are misaligned—and by how much
- How employees’ beliefs about their work shape how rewards are experienced
- Which rewards actually predict retention—and which do not
What You'll Get in the Full Report:
Empirical Insights on Rewards ROI Clear evidence of which rewards drive retention and advocacy—and which do not
Manager vs. Employee Perception Gaps Detailed analysis of where alignment breaks down and how it impacts outcomes
Belief-Based Workforce Insights How meaning, mattering, and growth reshape reward valuation
A Practical Framework for Action A framework linking employee experience to the organizational levers that influence it
Strategic Recommendations for Rewards Leaders Actionable guidance to redesign rewards for greater impact
