Latest news with #recognition
National Post
3 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Achievers Strengthens Customer Leadership with Sixteen Total Accolades in G2's Spring 2025 Reports
Article content The recognition category leader with the highest usage in the industry also received three Regional Leader badges in major global regions, including Canada, Europe, and Asia Pacific Article content Article content TORONTO — Achievers, the world's most utilized recognition and reward software, announced today it has earned 16 badges across multiple categories in G2's Spring 2025 Grid® Reports. These accolades reinforce Achievers' unmatched ability to boost employee engagement and retention, fuel culture and business transformation through behavior change, and deliver measurable business results. Article content Known and trusted for its enterprise-grade recognition platform anchored in workforce science, Achievers empowers over 4 million users across nearly 190 countries. One of Achievers' standout differentiators is its unmatched adoption and usage – employees using Achievers receive 13 recognitions annually on average, twice the rate of other recognition platforms. The level of user engagement was solidified by G2: Achievers earned a coveted Leader spot in G2's Spring 2025 Enterprise Grid® for Employee Recognition Software report, fueled by exceptional user feedback and market momentum. With over 1,600 five-star reviews, users consistently highlight Achievers' ability to recognize both everyday efforts and major milestones, integrate seamlessly into daily workflows, and provide robust reporting and insights. Customers also benefit from exceptional support and innovative, consistent recognition and reward experiences. Article content 'At Achievers, our customers aren't just recognizing more, they're recognizing moments that matter seamlessly with science-backed strategies,' said David Bator, Managing Director, Achievers Workforce Institute. 'The impact is clear: they're doubling productivity and engagement rates, shaping resilient cultures, delivering better service, and witnessing stronger ROI. With 16 G2 badges and over 1,600 five-star reviews, our customers aren't just seeing results, they're helping 90 million G2 users understand what makes our approach to recognition so unique and effective. We're incredibly grateful for our passionate, vocal, and loyal user community.' Article content In addition to earning a spot as a Leader on the Enterprise Grid® for Employee Recognition, Achievers ranked as a Leader on G2's Spring 2025 Enterprise Grid® for Employee Experience and a Leader on the Mid-Market Grid® Report for Employee Engagement. Achievers was also named on the Enterprise Canada Regional Grid® Reports for Employee Recognition, Employee Engagement, and Employee Experience. Additional G2 accolades Achievers received this spring include badges for Momentum Leader for Employee Engagement and Employee Recognition, High Performer in Canada for both Employee Engagement and Employee Experience, as well as High Performer Enterprise for Employee Recognition. Achievers also earned the title of Regional Leader in Canada, Asia Pacific, and Europe for the same areas – bringing the total to 16 G2 badges earned in Spring 2025. Article content Achievers' exceptional rankings in G2's Spring 2025 Grid Reports build on a milestone year for the recognition category leader. Article content Achievers recently unveiled an AI assistant, a recognition toolkit, and new reward features, equipping customers with sophisticated tools to address the $438 billion management disengagement crisis. Its unwavering commitment to innovation and global excellence continues to earn industry acclaim. In April 2025, Achievers announced that it ranked as a Leader in Everest Group's Rewards and Recognition (R&R) Solutions PEAK Matrix® Assessment for the third consecutive time, also securing the #1 spot for vision and capability. Earlier in the year, Achievers and its customer Seattle Children's Hospital were honored in the Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards for their work empowering patients and families to recognize their healthcare providers, an initiative that set a new standard for employee appreciation in the healthcare industry. Article content G2 is the world's largest and most trusted online software marketplace. Every year, over 90 million people, including those working at major companies, use G2 to help them choose the best software based on real feedback from other users. G2 scores products and vendors based on reviews gathered from its user community and aggregated data from online sources and social networks. The G2 Star Rating is calculated by aggregating reviewers' answers to its 'Likely to Recommend' question (1–10 scale) and dividing the average in half. Its software scoring system leverages two proprietary scoring components, Satisfaction and Market Performance to determine overall G2 score and Grid placement. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Article content Article content
The Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Your cat may not show it – but it definitely knows your scent
Cats can tell their owners apart from strangers from the scent of their human companions, a new study reveals. Researchers from the Tokyo University of Agriculture say cats tend to spend a longer time sniffing the odour of a stranger than that of their owner, suggesting they can recognise familiar humans quickly based on smell. Previous studies have shown that cats use their sense of smell to identify other felines and communicate with each other. Whether they can also use scent to distinguish between humans has been unclear, however. The latest study, published on Wednesday in the journal PLoS, sought to find out if cats could tell familiar and unfamiliar humans apart based on smell alone. Researchers tested 30 domestic cats by presenting them with plastic tubes containing swabs rubbed under the armpit, behind the ear, and between the toes of either their owner or a human they had never met. They asked the cat owners to complete an online questionnaire to assess their pet's personality and their relationship. They observed that the study cats spent significantly longer sniffing an unknown odour than that of their owner or an empty tube. The felines tended to sniff unknown odours with their right nostril initially before switching to the left nostril as they became more familiar with the smell. Researchers found that male cats with seemingly neurotic personalities tended to sniff each tube repetitively. To the contrary, males with more agreeable personalities sniffed the tubes more calmly. No such effect of personality was seen on the behaviour of female cats during the experiment, according to the study. The findings suggest domestic cats can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar humans based on their odour. It is still unclear, however, whether they identify specific humans based on smell alone. The research also reveals that cats have a right nostril preference for investigating new smells, indicating they may favour different hemispheres of their brain for different tasks. This phenomenon has previously been seen in other animals such as dogs, fish and birds. 'We suggest that cats use their olfaction for the recognition of humans. Also, we record characteristic rubbing behaviour occurring after sniffing, indicating that sniffing may be an exploratory behaviour preceding the rubbing of odour in cats,' the study notes. 'This relationship warrants further investigation along with the theory of whether cats are able to recognize a specific person from olfactory cues.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Cats distinguish their owner's scent from stranger's, study finds
Domestic cats can tell the difference between the smell of their owner and that of a stranger, a new study study by Tokyo University of Agriculture found cats spent significantly longer sniffing tubes containing the odours of unknown people compared to tubes containing their owner's suggests cats can discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar humans based on their odour, the researchers say, but that it is unclear whether they can identify specific are known to use their strong sense of smell to identify and communicate with other cats, but researchers had not yet studied whether they can also use it to distinguish between people. Previous studies of human recognition by cats have shown they are able to distinguish between voices, interpret someone's gaze to find food, and change their behaviour according to a person's emotional state that is recognised via their the study published on Wednesday, researchers presented 30 cats with plastic tubes containing either a swab containing the odour of their owner, a swab containing the odour of a person of the same sex as their owner who they had never met, or a clean swabs containing odours had been rubbed under the armpit, behind the ear, and between the toes of the owner or spent significantly more time sniffing the odours of unknown people compared to those of their owner or the empty tube, suggesting they can discriminate between the smells of familiar and unfamiliar people, the researchers idea of sniffing an unknown stimulus for longer has been shown before in cats - weaned kittens sniff unknown female cats for longer compared to their the researchers cautioned that it cannot be concluded the cats can identify specific people such as their owner."The odour stimuli used in this study were only those of known and unknown persons," said one of the study's authors, Hidehiko Uchiyama."Behavioural experiments in which cats are presented with multiple known-person odour stimuli would be needed, and we would need to find specific behavioural patterns in cats that appear only in response to the owner's odour." Serenella d'Ingeo, a researcher at the University of Bari who was not involved in this study but who has studied cat responses to human odours, also said the results demonstrated cats react differently to familiar and unfamiliar smells, but that conclusions couldn't be drawn over their motivations."We don't know how the animal felt during the sniffing... We don't know for instance whether the animal was relaxed or tense," she d'Ingeo added that the presentation of samples to cats by their own owners, who naturally added their own odour to the environment, could have increased the cats' interest in the unfamiliar ones."In that situation, owners present not only their visual presence but also their odour," she said."So of course if they present other odours that are different from their personal one, in a way they engage more the cat."The study's authors concluded that "cats use their olfaction [smell] for the recognition of humans".They also noted cats rubbed their faces against the tubes after sniffing - which cats do to mark their scent on something - indicating that sniffing may be an exploratory behaviour that precedes odour researchers cautioned that this relationship needs further investigation, along with the theory of whether cats can recognise a specific person from their smell.
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Three people from Guernsey recognised for services to St John
Two ambulance staff and one volunteer from Guernsey have been invested as Members of the Order of St John. Aimee Lihou, head of quality and patient safety, former ambulance officer Dave Welbourne and St John charity volunteer Rachel Norman, were all recognised for their services. Mrs Lihou helped with establishing the new ambulance service for Alderney, while Mr Welbourne served on the Flying Christine II and Flying Christine III, and Mrs Norman was recognised for her safeguarding work, charity leaders three received their awards were at a ceremony at the international headquarters of St John in Clerkenwell. 'Real honour' Such appointments were sanctioned by HM King Charles to individuals recognised for an achievement, selflessness or inspiration and encouragement to others, the charity Lihou said: "It was a very special day, set within the St John Priory Church and a reception at St John's Gate. "I was delighted to share the occasion with other recipients from Guernsey and members of my family." She said she had been involved with the service since she was eight as a youth member and volunteer before training to be a paramedic. Mr Welbourne said: "It was a surprise when I first heard about the nomination and a real honour to receive this award in recognition of my 40-plus years of service to the Flying Christine - a position that I have always enjoyed and felt passionate about."
SBS Australia
6 days ago
- General
- SBS Australia
Would you consider nominating someone for an Order of Australia?
The Order of Australia recognises anyone who has made an extraordinary impact in the community. To receive an Order of Australia you must be nominated by someone. Every nomination goes through an in-depth, rigorous assessment. All aspects of the process remain highly confidential. The Order of Australia is part of our national honours system. It's the preeminent way to recognise and celebrate Australians who go above and beyond, and who make a fantastic contribution to the community. Nominations for the award are considered by the Council for the Order of Australia, an independent body that makes recommendations to the Governor-General. Rob Ayling, Director at the Governor-General's Office, says the Order of Australia is for all Australians, so the process really starts with a nomination from within the community. 'Some recipients are very well known, but the vast majority are unsung heroes—the sort of people that we all know in the community that give tirelessly of themselves, work selflessly and really make a difference. Some are volunteers, some achieve things in the community sector in industry, in sports, in the arts.' There's really no limit to who can be recognised, but everyone that is recognised has one thing in common—and that's that somebody else has taken the time to nominate them for recognition. Rob Ayling, Director at the Governor-General's Office The Council of the Order of Australia manages the process and determines who should be recognised, and at what level: AC, AO, AM and the most frequently received OAM, the Medal of the Order of Australia. What could prompt you to nominate someone? Michael Smith took the time to nomination someone he knows. 'The particular individual who I was part of nominating, to me, had been doing an outstanding service to the community over a period of time,' he says. 'I just felt that it was something that ought to be recognised. The sector that this person had been working in, and working in voluntarily I should add, I had not seen recognised in previous awards.' These people are not necessarily 'high-flyers', Mr Smith adds. They're everyday people. 'They're your neighbours, they're the people you work with, and what they do does make a difference and it is recognised.' Medal of the Order of Australia. Credit: Tim Thorpe What is the process? Once a nomination is submitted, a researcher from the Governor-General's Office validates the information that you've provided. On the form, nominators list referees who can comment on the nominee and their service. Researchers then contact additional referees who add their insights to create a complete picture of the nominee. It's a rigorous process that takes between 18 months and two years, Mr Ayling explains. 'The Council relies on having a very in-depth, thorough assessment of the nominee's service, what they've done, what that impact has been.' The Council then carefully considers the nomination and makes its recommendations to the Governor-General, who signs off on those recommendations. Honours lists are announced in January and June each year. Tim Thorpe receiving his OAM from former General Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau. Credit: Tim Thorpe OAM Confidentiality is key From beginning to end, every aspect of the process remains confidential, including the recipients themselves. Tim Thorpe received an OAM for his service to community radio. 'Around October I got an email telling me that I was being considered for this particular award and I was to either accept it or write a letter to not accept it, so I filled in the form—and I was sworn to secrecy,' he says. 'Then in December I received another email saying my award had been approved by the Governor-General, and once again to treat the matter with strict confidentiality.' If you nominate someone, you're also requested to keep the nomination secret from that person to avoid raising their expectations—nominations are not always successful. Referees too must maintain confidentiality. 'The Secretariat and the Council of the Order of Australia really rely on the candour and ability of referees to provide frank and honest feedback about the person that's been nominated,' Mr Ayling explains. 'Confidentiality is taken very, very seriously so that the person that is being nominated will never know what a referee has said about them.' What is it like to receive an Order of Australia? Tim Thorpe was not only surprised by the nomination, but also by how positively his award has been regarded by his peers. The common thing with anybody who gets these awards is they think, 'am I really worthy of this?' But I think that's up to others to judge rather than me. And I appreciate the fact that they thought I was worthy of an award. Tim Thorpe, OAM recipient 'But obviously you're having an effect on certain people's lives and that's nice to know. That's something that all of us need from time to time. We need that sort of affirmation. We need that encouragement. We need to know what we've been doing… is worthwhile.' OAM recipients receive a gold-coloured lapel pin, a medal and an invitation to attend a formal ceremony at Government House in their state capital. 'Those investiture ceremonies are just really beautiful, joyous occasions where the recipients, surrounded by their families and friends but also other recipients, really get to bask in the admiration, the recognition of banks of their fellow Australians,' Mr Ayling says. 'They're just a beautiful moment in time where these people, who are almost humble by default, are celebrated.' Hilkat Ozgun OAM Can an Order of Australia change your life? The award can motivate recipients to contribute even further to their communities, but it also prompts them to nominate other people who are worthy of a similar honour. Hilkat Ozgun received an OAM for her service to the Turkish community. 'I've nominated many people from the Turkish community and also from the other communities living in Australia for the different kind of awards,' Ms Ozgun says. She continues to help recognise and celebrate outstanding members of the community by acting as a referee for other nominees. Would you like to nominate someone? Head to the Governor General's website . Don't let any uncertainty around filling in the form prevent you from nominating someone, Mr Ayling says. The Office is happy to help you. 'We all want the Order of Australia to reflect the true diversity and strength of our country. And the only way for that to happen is for all Australians to take an active part in it, to look around their community, identify people that they think are extraordinary and have a great impact, whatever their work is, whatever their background is, and consider nominating them for the Order of Australia.' Subscribe or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia. Do you have any questions or topic ideas? Send us an email to australiaexplained@
