The biannual Edenred Benefit study, updated every six months, shows that employee preference for the gifts category has increased by 27%, the highest rise recorded in 2024–2025. The same analysis shows that only 40% of employees in Romania feel consistently appreciated, while 60% say they receive appreciation rarely or not at all, indicating significant room for developing recognition programmes. Across Europe, companies enter 2026 with a much stronger appetite for structured employee