There are a lot of studies on feedback in the workplace, and together, they can be startling – because they often seem contradictory. We want more feedback, and in particular critical feedback, but we are also stressed out giving and receiving feedback. When we get feedback right, it can make a huge difference driving engagement, retention and productivity.

1. 14 Startling Statistics on Employee Feedback &
How We Can Do Better
There are a lot of studies on feedback in the workplace, and together,
they can be startling—because they often seem to be contradictory.
We want more feedback, and in particular critical feedback, but we are
also stressed out by giving and getting feedback.
When we get feedback right, it can make a huge difference, driving
engagement, retention and productivity
How can we reconcile all of these statistics?

2. 1. 65% of employees report they want more
feedback than they currently get.
- Forbes/OfficeVibe

3. 2. 72% of employees under age 30 want feedback
on a daily or weekly basis.
- PWC

4. 3. Only 1% of Millennials say feedback is not
important to them.
- Harvard Business Review

5. 4. 72% of employees say they think their performance
would improve if their managers would provide
corrective feedback.
- Harvard Business Review

6. 5. Only 29% of employees say they “always” know
whether their performance is where it should be.
- LeadershipIQ

7. 6. Those who receive the right feedback have turnover
rates that are 14.9% lower than those who receive
no feedback.
- Gallup

8. 7. Managers giving little or no feedback to their
workers fail to engage 98% of them.
- Gallup

9. 8. 57% of employees say they prefer corrective
feedback, while only 43% prefer praise/recognition.
- Harvard Business Review

10. 9. Managers who provide strengths-based feedback
are 30x more likely to manage actively engaged
employees than those who give no feedback.
- Gallup

11. 10. The optimal ratio for feedback is—five positive
comments for every negative one.
- Harvard Business Review

12. 11. 68% of employees who receive accurate and
consistent feedback feel fulfilled in their jobs.
- Clutch

13. 12. 92% of employees agree with the assertion,
“Negative (redirecting) feedback, if delivered
appropriately, is effective at improving
performance.”
- Harvard Business Review

14. 13. Millennials crave feedback, yet only 15% of them
routinely ask for it.
- Gallup

15. 14. A recent study found that heart rates jumped as much as
50% when giving and receiving feedback. Those receiving
unsolicited feedback experienced the most erratic
heartbeats.
- NYU/NeuroLeadership Journal

16. So, which of these statements are true?
ALL OF THEM!

17. Employees want and need both strengths-based and
constructive feedback—but, in order to be most effective,
employees should be empowered to take responsibility for
asking for that feedback.
When employees have autonomy over when, how, and from
whom feedback comes, that feedback is most effective in
driving engagement, retention and development.

18. Want to Learn More?
Read more about employee-driven feedback in our
new guide:
Employee-driven Feedback: How to create a feedback
culture that actually works.
Sign up to receive a FREE DEMO of iCoachFirst to see how we
can help you build a culture of coaching, real-time feedback
and continuous performance growth.