Compliment sandwiches are common at work
Core finding
Verasight surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults from August 12 to 18, 2026. In the past month, 42.5% of Americans gave or received feedback at work that put criticism between two compliments.
Another 23.9% say it never happened, and 23.7% did so one to three times. The shares cover all adults, including the 33.6% who are not currently employed.
Topline distribution
Compliment sandwiches are common at work.
At your workplace over the past month, how often have you given OR received feedback that is structured in a positive-negative-positive sequence (i.e., feedback began with positive feedback, then negative feedback, and ended with positive feedback)?
n = 1,000 · Aug 12–18, 2026 · MoE ±3.2%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Aug 12–18, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.2% |
| Module | AOM Survey #2026-152 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/aom-2026
At your workplace over the past month, how often have you given OR received feedback that is structured in a positive-negative-positive sequence (i.e., feedback began with positive feedback, then negative feedback, and ended with positive feedback)?
Cite this question
AOM Omnibus, fielded August 12-18, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.