In your organization, just say thank you when somebody deserves praise. Not kudos. Not a shoutout. No recognition. Just thank you.
Kudos and the alternatives are just corporate speak to avoid saying what really should be said. Don’t communicate like a PR firm, saying “I apologize” rather than “I’m sorry” to deflect. These abstractions just tell people you don’t quite mean what you said.
We don’t teach kids to say “kudos” as part of manners in response to a favor. That would be silly. Please and thank you.
Just say what you really mean. If you don’t, do you really mean it?