Employee Recognition Letter Template

Employee recognition is key to building a positive workplace. According to a 2022 report by Workhuman, employees who feel recognized are:

• 4x more likely to feel engaged at work
• 5x more likely to feel connected to the company culture
• 5x more likely to see a path to grow at the company

“Employee recognition is the cornerstone of any great workplace culture. It feels good to be part of an organization that celebrates individual and collective success.”
- Leanne Elliott, Occupational Psychologist  

While that recognition can be as simple as a kind word in a Slack thread, sometimes you need something a little more formal — an employee recognition letter.  

Recognition letters are a great way to let your colleagues and direct reports know how much you appreciate them. A recognition letter is just what it sounds like — a letter thanking a peer, colleague or direct report for their outstanding efforts or acknowledging a big milestone (such as a work anniversary.)

But it can be tricky to know just what to say. Should you be formal? If yes, how formal? How can you sound appreciative without being gushing? How much do you need to say?

Not to worry — these templates should help you out. We’ve included:

• A customizable template for a manager to send to a direct report
• Another template to thank and recognize a peer

You can modify the templates to make them suitable for any situation, so you’ll feel confident that you’re sending a meaningful and effective letter of recognition, every time.