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Articles by Ben Wigert
The Post-Pandemic Workplace: The Experiment Continues
In March 2020, the workplace changed forever. The COVID-19 pandemic forced people to stay home with little warning, while businesses quickly activated continuity plans and emergency public health protocols took effect. Employees adopted new ways of working as the pandemic continued, and waves of people changed jobs amid The Great Resignation. Customer expectations also evolved, affecting how entire industries operate. Throughout the pandemic, Gallup measured how people’s work and lives changed.
The Top Four Reasons for Taking a New Job
Results for the quarterly Gallup workforce studies (noted as “WF QX” in footnotes) reflect results from the Gallup Panel. Other recent data obtained before 2022 also come from the Gallup Panel, including its COVID-19 Panel studies; however, some older trend data come from other sources. Details may be provided upon request.
7 Workplace Challenges for 2025
Although the U.S. economy enjoys low unemployment and declining quit rates, the psychological state of workers tells a more complicated story. Historically low employee engagement and wellbeing levels indicate employees are struggling. Many report feeling disconnected from their organization’s mission and like their organization doesn’t care about them. Gallup’s measures of these key employee experiences remain below pre-pandemic levels. In other words, the workplace never returned to normal.
The Great Detachment: Why Employees Feel Stuck
Results for the Gallup polls cited in this article are based on a random, nationally representative sample of adults (aged 18 and older), working full time or part time for an employer, and living in the United States. Each participant is a member of the Gallup Panel™ and completed a self-administered web survey. Gallup’s most recent survey cited in the article was conducted Oct. 23-Nov. 5, 2024, and includes 22,558 employees.
Despite Employer Prioritization, Employee Wellbeing Falters
Wellbeing in the workplace is an executive concern. Gallup’s March 2024 survey of 151 Chief Human Resource Officers (CHROs) from large companies reveals that wellbeing ranks among the top organizational priorities this year for one in four CHROs (23%). This follows U.S. adult mental health and emotional wellbeing dropping significantly in 2020 to a historic low and remaining there through our last recorded measurement in December of 2023.
How to Boost Productivity in Hybrid Teams
Hybrid work offers new perks for individual workers, but what about team productivity? The future of team productivity for most remote-capable workers depends on learning to collaborate more effectively in a hybrid workplace. When teams are physically distanced and on different schedules, teamwork is harder to coordinate, and productive partnerships are more difficult to cultivate.
42% of Employee Turnover Is Preventable but Often Ignored
Results from this article are based on self-administered web surveys conducted quarter 4 of 2023 and quarter 2 of 2024. The first chart in this article is from a survey conducted in quarter 2 of 2024 from May 1 – 21st and includes a random sample of 19,836 adults who are ages 18 and older, working full time or part time in the United States, and are members of the Gallup Panel. For results based on this sample, the margin of sampling error is ±1.0 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
42% of Employee Turnover Is Preventable but Often Ignored
Results from this article are based on self-administered web surveys conducted quarter 4 of 2023 and quarter 2 of 2024. The first chart in this article is from a survey conducted in quarter 2 of 2024 from May 1 – 21st and includes a random sample of 19,836 adults who are ages 18 and older, working full time or part time in the United States, and are members of the Gallup Panel. For results based on this sample, the margin of sampling error is ±1.0 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
The Strengths, Weaknesses and Blind Spots of Managers
Results for the quarterly Gallup workforce studies reflect results from the Gallup Panel based on self-administered web surveys conducted quarter 3 of 2023. 2023 Q3 surveys were conducted Aug. 9-24, 2023, with a random sample of 18,665 adults who are aged 18 and older, working full time or part time for organizations in the United States, and members of the Gallup Panel. For results based on this sample, the margin of sampling error is ±1.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
2% of CHROs Think Their Performance Management System Works
Results for this Gallup poll are based on self-administered web surveys conducted each quarter. Q3 2023 surveys were conducted Aug. 9-24, 2023, with a random sample of 18,665 adults who are aged 18 and older, working full time or part time for organizations in the United States, and members of the Gallup Panel. For results based on this sample, the margin of sampling error is ±1.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
Hybrid Work Needs a Workplace Value Proposition
Why do people come to the office? And how can leaders make that time as meaningful and productive as possible? These questions are more urgent than ever with the majority of office workers now having some degree of hybrid flexibility. Today, 54% of remote-capable workers are working hybrid and finding themselves weighing the costs and benefits of the daily commute. In 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the average one-way commute to work was 27.6 minutes.
The Post-Pandemic Customer: More Demanding, Harder on Employees
The Gallup CHRO Roundtable Q1 survey. Feb. 14-March 5, 2023. N-Size=95 Results for this Gallup poll are based on self-administered web surveys conducted in the second and third quarters of 2023. 2023 Q2 surveys were conducted May 11-25, 2023, with a random sample of 18,871 adults who are aged 18 and older, working full time or part time for organizations in the United States, and members of the Gallup Panel.
6 Workplace Trends Leaders Should Watch in 2024
Story Highlights Many organizations are revising how they do business Relationships between workers and organizations are changing To win in 2024, leaders must rethink their approach to people management In 2024, employers and employees are heading for a relationship reset. This shift partly stems from changes in where and how people work. In 2019, 60% of remote-capable employees spent their week working fully on-site, whereas that figure has fallen to just 20% in 2023.
The Future of the Office Has Arrived: It's Hybrid
Workplace October 9, 2023 Story Highlights Eight in 10 remote-capable employees expect to work hybrid or fully remote Hybrid workers have largely settled into new work patterns and habits Balance the benefits and risks when crafting your hybrid work strategy Since the pandemic ended, the workforce has watched and wondered: Will we return to the office and work like we did in 2019? Or will the great global remote work experiment stick?
The Manager Squeeze: How the New Workplace Is Testing Team Leaders
2019 Gallup Workforce Study: Combining survey responses from 14,174 full-time employees (excluding self-employed) conducted between January-December 2019. Margin of error was ±1 percentage point. Results based on the total sample of managers are from the Agility 2019 Study conducted from May 16-30, 2019, the margin of sampling error is ±6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
6 Trends Leaders Need to Navigate This Year
For leaders, 2022 was defined by a war for talent and the office. Slumping employee engagement and wellbeing painted a grim picture of disrupted workplaces across the world. Some workers reevaluated their work lives, and others rethought their careers entirely.
Quiet Firing: What It Is and How to Stop Doing It
Story Highlights Quiet firing is a form of neglect that slowly pushes employees out of their job Withholding coaching, development and recognition is a fast way to quiet fire Quiet firing is never a good way to avoid a hard conversation -- try these solutions instead Managers and leaders, you have probably heard about quiet quitting, but are you guilty of quiet firing?
The Advantages and Challenges of Hybrid Work
Story Highlights Hybrid strategies should adapt to meet business and employee needs Hybrid work improves work-life balance, efficiency and autonomy The office is still the best place for employees to work collaboratively The Situation: Employees are returning to the office in droves, and hybrid work arrangements are quickly becoming the new normal for many remote-capable employees. Employers are scrambling to determine how to make hybrid work as engaging and productive as possible.
Returning to the Office: The Current, Preferred and Future State of Remote Work
Story Highlights Gallup estimates 70+ million U.S. workers can do their job working remotely Only two in 10 remote-capable employees are currently working fully on-site When an employee's location preference doesn't match their current work location, burnout rises while engagement drops The Situation: The "Great Global Work-From-Home Experiment" created by the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we work and expect to work far into the future.
Too Many Teams, Too Many Bosses
Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. Is The Industry Physician News & Educational Trade Publication. This site does not constitute medical, financial or legal advice. Note, An Interview/Story Is Not An Endorsement. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the site.
The Four Essential Dynamics of Hybrid Work
The workplace has changed dramatically. It's up to leaders to make the most of it. According to a February 2022 Gallup study of over 12,000 U.S. employees, about four in 10 workers are currently either hybrid (working remotely part of the week) or working entirely from home. What's more, regardless of their current situation, nearly seven in 10 workers say they would prefer to be fully remote or hybrid.
The Future of Hybrid Work: 5 Key Questions Answered With Data
Survey Methods These results are based on nationally representative surveys of U.S. employees, defined as adults employed full time who are not exclusively self-employed. All surveys are based on self-administered web surveys conducted with a random sample of adults, aged 18 and older, who are members of the Gallup Panel. Gallup uses probability-based, random sampling methods to recruit its Panel members. The 2022 results are based on a Gallup Panel survey conducted Feb.
The Top 6 Things Employees Want in Their Next Job
Results for the October Workforce Survey 2021 are based on self-administered web surveys conducted Oct. 16-28, 2021, with a random sample of 13,085 adults, aged 18 and older, who are members of the Gallup Panel who have worked for their employer for at least three months. For results based on this sample, the margin of sampling error is ±1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Gallup uses probability-based, random sampling methods to recruit its panel members.
Gender Gap in Worker Burnout Widened Amid the Pandemic
Story Highlights Women are more likely than men to feel burned out at work, 34% vs. 26% The burnout gender gap has more than doubled since 2019 Women in non-leadership positions are especially affected Working women report more on-the-job burnout than working men do, and the gap has only widened during the pandemic. In 2019, 30% of women and 27% of men said they "always" or "very often" felt burned out at work.
Why Manager Development Programs Aren't Working
Story Highlights 66% of managers say they participate in a learning program But many report not having the opportunity for growth and advancement Learn what your managers really experience on the job to boost development According to Gallup's most recent manager experience perspective paper, 66% of managers report that their employer offers a professional development program.
3 Ways Managers Can Unite a Divided Workplace
Story Highlights Workplace division can hurt productivity and affect culture Reorienting your people around purpose and development creates unity Employee recognition reaffirms an organization's shared values and goals Recent Gallup polling shows that the American public is almost equally divided into thirds among conservatives, moderates and liberals when it comes to social issues. The presidential job approval rating is near 50%, as is Supreme Court job approval.
Remote Work Persisting and Trending Permanent
Survey Methods Gallup’s latest remote work estimates are based on self-administered web surveys conducted Sept. 13-19, 2021, with a random sample of 4,034 adults, aged 18 and older, who are members of the Gallup Panel. Gallup uses probability-based, random sampling methods to recruit its Panel members.
The 360-Degree Feedback Tool and How It Benefits Leadership
To appreciate the recent rise of 360-degree feedback in today’s workplaces, we must first understand the factors that led to the decline in its reputation. With roots in the industrial era and often referred to as a multi-rater assessment, 360-degree feedback rose in popularity and became mainstream. It became so mainstream that organizations slowly lost sight of its purpose.
Going Back to Work in the Office: It Has to Be Worth It
Story Highlights Some employees aren't sure they ever want to go back to work in an office Enhance and communicate the benefits of working on-site Focus on the four C's to shape a compelling workplace value proposition After an entire year of completely reimagining work structures, overcoming hardships and worrying about wellbeing, asking employees to return to the workplace can feel like yet another challenge for leaders to overcome. But what if leaders look at it differently?
The Wellbeing-Engagement Paradox of 2020
Story Highlights Wellbeing and engagement diverged in 2020 Remote workers experienced higher levels of engagement, stress, and worry Leaders face a crucial junction: sustainability and wellbeing vs. burnout "Unprecedented" may be the most overused word of 2020, but COVID-19 workplace data trends are truly like nothing Gallup has ever seen.
(Re)Create a Winning Employee Experience in 2021
Story Highlights The employee experience ties directly to business performance After significant change, revisit how you hire, onboard, manage performance and more Employee wellbeing is now an imperative focus To create a best-in-class workplace, leaders need to consistently deliver on the fundamental, unchanging elements of a great employee experience.
Remote Workers Facing High Burnout: How to Turn It Around
Working from home full time during the pandemic is a very different experience than working remotely prior to COVID-19 -- and it shows in our burnout data. Employee burnout was a rising concern before the pandemic, with the workforce experiencing a significant increase in burnout from 2016 to 2019.
Performance Management Must Evolve to Survive COVID-19
Story Highlights Most performance management systems are too rigid for uncertain times Leaders need a new way to track and encourage high performance Agile goals, ongoing feedback, and flexible metrics and incentives are key The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown performance management systems into chaos -- and the reactions have been telling. In March, Facebook announced that it would be giving all 45,000 employees the same "exceeds expectations" performance review rating for the first two quarters.
The Ultimate Guide to Micromanagers: Signs, Causes, Solutions
Story Highlights You can identify a micromanager with one simple question Micromanaged teams can look happy but perform poorly Remote workers and matrixed teams still experience micromanagement The micromanager has become a bit of a boogeyman in the business world. Nobody wants to work for one. Few managers want to be one. Everyone has a horror story about one.
Lead Your Remote Team Away From Burnout, Not Toward It
Story Highlights Recent challenges have made leading remote teams even tougher Preventing burnout from work presents new challenges for companies Managers must understand the unique challenges of their remote employees Leading remote teams is a demanding and unique experience. More so, leading remote teams after weeks of stay-at-home orders, preparing for mid-year progress reviews, and figuring out how to maximize your employees' productivity is even more intense.
Get Progress Reviews Right During COVID-19 (And After)
by Adam Hickman, Ph.D., and Ben Wigert, Ph.D. Story Highlights Coaching is the biggest deficit in traditional performance management Effective conversations inspire, motivate and engage employees Lead progress reviews that focus on achievements, fairness and goals COVID-19 is depressing, scary and surrounded with uncertainty.
Employee Burnout: The Biggest Myth
Story Highlights 76% of employees experience burnout at least sometimes It's a common myth that simply reducing hours will solve employee burnout Learn the real causes of burnout and what your company can do Do you know what really causes job burnout? It's not just overtime. According to Gallup's recent report, Employee Burnout: Causes and Cures, 76% of employees experience burnout on the job at least sometimes, and 28% say they are burned out "very often" or "always" at work.
How Your Manager Experience Shapes Your Employee Experience
Story Highlights Managers are the linchpin of a great employee experience Learning the top challenges of being a manager can help you improve their engagement Creating a better manager experience will benefit your entire organization How do employees feel about your organization? The answer to that question influences many of the most important measures of your organization's health -- from retention, engagement and performance to customers, revenue and operational efficiency.
Feedback Is Not Enough
Story Highlights Few managers give feedback that is helpful to employees Managers need to shift from past-focused feedback to future-oriented coaching Great coaching conversations are a two-way street The six most dreaded words for any employee: Can I give you some feedback? Clearly, feedback isn't working the way it should. When most organizations had hierarchical, top-down, command-and-control structures as their primary decision-making method, feedback was paramount.
More Harm Than Good: The Truth About Performance Reviews
It's important for leaders to ask: Do our performance reviews really help us get the most out of our people? Managers are required, in most organizations, to sit down once a year with each of their team members and have this weird conversation: the annual performance review. It tends to feel forced and awkward, and it usually doesn't do a lot to help employees get better at their jobs. According to Gallup, only 14% of employees strongly agree their performance reviews inspire them to improve.
This Fixable Problem Costs U.S. Businesses $1 Trillion
A trillion dollars. That's what U.S. businesses are losing every year due to voluntary turnover. And the most astounding part is that most of this damage is self-inflicted. Here's how it breaks down for an individual organization: The annual overall turnover rate in the U.S. in 2017 was 26.3%, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The cost of replacing an individual employee can range from one-half to two times the employee's annual salary -- and that's a conservative estimate.
Win the War for Teacher Talent With Performance Development
Copyright © 2016 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. Gallup, Inc.
Fostering Creativity at Work: Do Your Managers Push or Crush Innovation?
Creativity is a business asset. Spotting and seizing opportunities -- and avoiding pitfalls -- requires ingenuity and originality. But very few companies treat creativity like a job expectation and incorporate it into their performance development system.
Issue 24 Interview with Hiten Shah, Founder of KISSmetrics, CrazyEgg, FYI and Product Habits
Issue 24 Interview with Hiten Shah, Founder of KISSmetrics, CrazyEgg, FYI and Product Habits Every few weeks, I ask one question to a founder, CEO, manager, or business owner I respect… Hiten Shah is the founder of numerous successful SaaS companies, including KISSmetrics, CrazyEgg and now FYI and Product Habits.
Employee Burnout, Part 1: The 5 Main Causes
Story Highlights Don't overlook the organizational costs of employee burnout Burnout is strongly influenced by how employees are managed Burnout is preventable when you focus on the right factors In this three-part series, we examine 15 workplace factors that correlate highly with employee burnout. First, we discuss the top five causes of burnout, then we look at the next five factors to consider from a management perspective.
Money Might End the Strike, but It Doesn't Motivate Teachers
Teachers across America have had enough. In several states, educators have staged walkouts to protest low pay. Hundreds more have called in sick with "pension flu." To some, these demonstrations might suggest that money is a powerful motivator for teachers. But there's more to the picture than just wages. On the one hand, many teachers feel that they're underpaid.
Why Healthcare Leaders Should Build a Culture of Development
With change permeating healthcare organizations, optimizing employee performance is more important than ever -- for both patient outcomes and organizational effectiveness. It's alarming, then, that just one in five U.S. employees strongly agree their performance is managed in a way that motivates them to do outstanding work.
Both Sides of the Aisle Agree: The Media Is a Problem
A recent Knight Foundation/Gallup report on Americans' perceptions of the media and its role in democracy contains many alarming findings for those who work in the media, and for Americans concerned about the relationship between a free press and the public. For example, Americans are much more likely to say the media supports our democracy "very poorly" or "poorly" (43%) as to say it supports democracy "very well" or "well" (28%).
Give Performance Reviews That Actually Inspire Employees
Annual performance reviews can be one of the most uncomfortable parts of being an employee -- and being a manager. For employees, annual performance reviews are like walking into the unknown: sitting down for a long meeting with a manager they may not have talked to in a while, trying to remember what goals they set months ago, defending mistakes they can't fix and figuring out how to bring up pay in a way that isn't awkward.
How Managers Can Excel by Really Coaching Their Employees
The answer to that simple question may have a profound impact on how employees are managed, now and into the foreseeable future. It's certainly a question that front-line managers will have to answer if they want to get the most out of today's workforce. The problem is, recent Gallup research finds that only about one in four employees "strongly agree" that their manager provides meaningful feedback to them -- or that the feedback they receive helps them do better work.
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