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Articles by Ryan Pendell
Employee Data Use: One in Five Trust Leaders a Great Deal
Story Highlights 20% have a great deal of trust in leaders to use data responsibly 40% of engaged employees have great trust versus 4% of disengaged Employees who discuss workplace data use report greater trust One in five employees who work on a computer or another device regularly have “a great deal” of trust in their organization’s leaders to use employee data responsibly.
U.S. Workers Continue to Report Downsizing
The share of U.S. employees reporting that their employer is letting people go and reducing its workforce held steady in the first quarter of 2026 at about 21%, after nearly tripling from Q2 of 2022 to Q3 of 2025. Still, more workers in the latest reading said their employer is hiring new people and expanding its workforce (34%) than cutting back. As has been the case since the start of 2024, the largest share of workers in the first quarter (45%) reported no change in staffing where they work.
Leaders Have Better Lives but Worse Days
New data from Gallup’s 2026 State of the Global Workplace report shows that leaders (defined as “managers of managers”) are more likely to be thriving in their lives and engaged at work than those who work for them. Yet they are also more likely than less senior managers or individual contributors to report negative daily emotions.
Global Employee Engagement Continues Decline
In 2025, global employee engagement declined for the second year in row, as reported in Gallup’s annual State of the Global Workplace report, the world’s largest ongoing study of employee experience. This year’s report examines employee engagement trends, job market perceptions and employee wellbeing in 2025. Here are a few of the most important findings: 1.
Hybrid Work in Retreat? Barely.
Results for this Gallup poll are based on self-administered web surveys conducted in the second quarter, May 7-16, 2025, with a random sample of 17,660 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.
Fully Remote Work Least Popular With Gen Z
Gen Z workers in the U.S. are the least likely generation to prefer exclusively remote work, according to Gallup’s latest May 2025 findings. Only 23% of remote-capable Gen Z employees say they would prefer fully remote work, compared with 35% among each older generation. Fully on-site work remains the least popular option across all age groups.
AI Use at Work Has Nearly Doubled in Two Years
The use of AI at work is accelerating. In the past two years, the percentage of U.S. employees who say they have used AI in their role a few times a year or more has nearly doubled, from 21% to 40%. Frequent AI use (a few times a week or more) has also nearly doubled, from 11% to 19% since Gallup’s first measure in 2023. Daily use has doubled in the past 12 months alone, from 4% to 8%. ###Embeddable### AI adoption has increased primarily for white-collar roles.
The Remote Work Paradox: Higher Engagement, Lower Wellbeing
Globally, fully remote workers are the most likely to be engaged at work (31%), compared with hybrid (23%), on-site non-remote-capable (23%) and on-site remote-capable (19%). That’s according to the latest State of the Global Workplace report, which tracks how employees worldwide are doing in their work and lives.
Global Engagement Falls for the Second Time Since 2009
Low employee engagement is holding back global worker productivity, according to Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report. Global employee engagement and employee wellbeing have generally risen over the past decade. But both fell in 2024, which has implications for corporate productivity, innovation and performance. Here’s what leaders need to know from Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report: 1.
Respect at Work Returns to a Record Low
The percentage of U.S. employees who strongly agree that they are treated with respect at work has returned to the record low of 37% first recorded in 2022. Gallup began measuring respect at work in 2018. Respect declined for all types of workers in 2022 -- across industries, job levels, and demographic characteristics like gender and age.
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.
U.S. Worker Negative Emotions Stay Above Pre-Pandemic Levels
###Embeddable### U.S. employees’ daily negative emotions remain elevated above pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest update of Gallup’s workforce indicators on employee wellbeing. Although all four negative emotions measured -- stress, worry, anger and sadness -- peaked in 2020, their latest measures remain higher than data Gallup collected before 2020. Gallup’s indicators also find that employees’ life evaluations have reached a record low.
U.S. Employee Life Evaluation Hits New Record Low
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.
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.
1 in 5 Employees Worldwide Feel Lonely
Globally, one in five employees report experiencing loneliness a lot the previous day according to Gallup’s new State of the Global Workplace: 2024 Report. Loneliness is more prevalent among employees younger than age 35 than it is for those aged 35 and older. The same percentages of working men and working women report loneliness: each 20%. Job levels also seemed to have little association with loneliness.
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.
Are Unions Experiencing a Renaissance? Not Quite
In 2023, labor union approval in the U.S. exceeded its long-term average for the fifth consecutive year. And in three notable labor disputes of 2023 -- United Auto Workers, the Hollywood writers strike and the actors strike -- the majority of the public sided with the workers. In fact, Americans’ approval of unions has been rising for the past decade. And when we ask more questions about unions, we see this support is not superficial.
Frontline Workers Want Flexibility Too
Results for this Gallup poll are based on self-administered web surveys conducted each quarter in 2022 and 2023. 2022 Q2 surveys were conducted June 12-23, 2022, with a random sample of 16,586 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 ±1.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
In a Tight Labor Market, Employees Bear the Burden
1] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/jlt/latest-numbers.htm. The Gallup CHRO Roundtable Q2 Survey. June 26-July 8, 2023. N-Size=135 Results for this Gallup poll are based on self-administered web surveys conducted each quarter in 2023. Q1 surveys were conducted Feb. 6-20, 2023, with a random sample of 18,943 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.
72% of Top CHROs See AI Replacing Jobs - And Workers Aren't Ready
The Gallup CHRO Roundtable Q2 Survey. June 26-July 8, 2023. N-Size=135 Results for this Gallup poll are based on self-administered web surveys conducted each quarter in 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. For results based on this sample, the margin of sampling error is ±1.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
Engagement for Boomers: What They Want, How to Give It
Story Highlights Retirement-age workers are continuing to be part of the workforce Boomers are as engaged at work as Gen Zers and younger millennials Older generations have unique preferences for recognition and development Let’s be honest: Millennials and Gen Zers get a lot of attention in the workplace. And for good reason -- your younger workers are your future leaders. Every organization needs to grow the next generation of managers and executives if they want to survive.
Why so Quiet? Breaking the Workplace Taboo of Silence
Story Highlights Employees who quiet quit feel like they can’t speak up at work People want meaning and fulfillment from their jobs Workplace wellbeing and fairness work against disengagement Quiet quitting isn’t quitting. It’s multiplying. If people on your team aren’t quiet quitting, perhaps they are “quiet thriving.” Or “chaotic working.” Or maybe they are engaged in “bare minimum Mondays.” But it’s not just coming from the employee side.
Why Trust in Leaders Is Faltering and How to Gain It Back
SURVEY METHODS Results for this Gallup poll are based on self-administered web surveys conducted each quarter in 2022. Q1 surveys were conducted Feb. 3-14, 2022, with a random sample of 15,982 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 ±1.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
5 Ways Managers Can Stop Employee Turnover
People may give many reasons for leaving a job. Unrealistic expectations. Excessive workload. Lack of flexibility. Unfair pay. But perhaps the biggest reason for employee turnover may be that there was no manager trying to keep them there. 52% percent of exiting employees say that their manager or organisation could have done something to prevent them from leaving their job. But only about a third of former employees said they had a conversation with their manager about leaving before they quit.
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.
Gallup's Top Workplace Stories of 2022
Did you quiet quit last year? Quiet fire someone? Return to the office? Go hybrid? Search for remote jobs? In 2022, the workplace made headlines. The Great Reshuffle continued, public support for unions reached a 57-year high and being in the office meant Tuesday through Thursday for many employees. During this transformational year, Gallup researchers made new discoveries about what employees want from work, the best ways to lead hybrid teams and the changing nature of workplace culture.
Your Employees Want Higher Pay, but Money Won't Fix Your Problems
Story Highlights Higher pay is a critical factor in employees taking a new job Pay may be compensating for a poor employee experience Engagement and wellbeing affect what pay means to employees We may be done with the Great Resignation, but the Great Resignation isn’t done with us.
Generation Disconnected: Data on Gen Z in the Workplace
Survey Methods Results for the Q2 2022 Gallup poll are based on self-administered web surveys conducted June 13-23, 2022, with a random sample of 16,586 adults working full time and part time for organizations in the United States, aged 18 and older, who are members of the Gallup Panel™. Results for the Q1 2022 Gallup Workforce Panel study are based on self-administered web surveys conducted Feb.
Customer Brand Preference and Decisions: Gallup's 70/30 Principle
Story Highlights 70% of decisions are based on emotion, including brand preference Gallup's research helped shape the field of behavioral economics Focus on the emotional decision-making of both customers and employees What motivates consumers to stay loyal to a brand? Are consumers primarily rational actors, looking to maximize benefits for themselves? Or are they driven by impulse, passion and feeling? Scientists have studied this question for decades, using a variety of different methods.
Avoid Virtue Signaling; Embrace Culture-Changing DEI Initiatives
Story Highlights Employees want DEI initiatives at work to be more than virtue signaling Different races, genders and sexual orientations have unique work experiences Leaders must create a culture where DEI strategies put people first When it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, today's employees want more than press releases and token gestures of support. They want to see real change -- systemic and structural changes to the way organizations do business every day.
Employee Wellbeing Starts at Work
Story Highlights In most cases, limiting work won't make work better People with high career wellbeing are more likely to be thriving Burnout is a career killer, but managers can help We often put work and wellbeing at opposite ends of the spectrum. "Work" is all the drudgery that we go through to have the things in life that make us happy, such as spending time with family and friends. If only we didn't have so much work to do, we could get to things that really matter.
From Surviving to Thriving: How Managers Can Boost Employee Well-being
According to Gallup’s “State of the Global Workplace: 2022 Report,” only 21% of the world’s employees are engaged at work and only 33% are thriving in their overall lives. This means that, on any given day, most workers in the typical organization are watching the clock and dissatisfied with the way their lives are going.
Stressed, Sad, and Anxious: A Snapshot of the Global Workforce
While some leaders may feel like things are beginning to return to normal, data from Gallup’s new State of the Global Workplace report suggests that the emotional side of work has not healed from the pressures of the last two years. Under the surface, people around the world are stressed and anxious: 44% of employees say they experienced stress a lot during the previous day. These negative emotions are at a new high.
The World's $7.8 Trillion Workplace Problem
Story Highlights Globally, employee engagement is in a costly slump Engaged employees improve key relationships within an organization Download the State of the Global Workplace: 2022 Report to learn more Employees who are not engaged or who are actively disengaged cost the world $7.8 trillion in lost productivity, according to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace: 2022 Report. That's equal to 11% of global GDP. In 2021, 21% of the world's employees were engaged at work.
7 People Management Skills You Need to Succeed This Year
Story Highlights Team management isn't getting any easier or more predictable Counter doubt with development; upskill yourself with seven competencies Try choosing one people management skill to improve each quarter It's a new year. And there's a lot of work to be done. But somehow, your team doesn't seem as excited as in years past. Some are struggling with burnout; others are confused about what to prioritize. Some feel directionless -- and are possibly looking for jobs elsewhere.
7 Gallup Workplace Insights: What We Learned in 2021
We will remember 2021 as the year that the pandemic did not end -- but we learned how to live and work despite the ongoing challenges. When vaccines started being distributed around the world, it appeared that good times were ahead. But in many countries, 2021 was far worse for COVID-19 than the previous year. It was a year marked by delayed office openings, school closings, supply chain issues, inflation pressure, new government mandates and health system strain, as well as the loss of loved ones.
5 Ways Managers Can Stop Employee Turnover
Story Highlights Employee turnover is often preventable Proactive managers keep your employee turnover rate under control Give your managers five ways to retain employees People may give many reasons for leaving a job. Unrealistic expectations. Excessive workload. Lack of flexibility. Unfair pay. But perhaps the biggest reason for employee turnover may be that there was no manager trying to keep them there.
Wellness vs. Wellbeing: What's the Difference?
Copyright © 2016 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. Gallup, Inc.
7 Gallup Workplace Insights: What We Learned in 2020
2020 will likely be remembered as the year the workplace changed forever. From in-office safety measures to work-from-home conference calls, leaders have been forced to reimagine every aspect of their management culture. What's essential to performance? How does personal life shape professional life? What do our core values really mean when the marketplace throws a curveball? As leaders navigated 2020's tough questions, many made transformative discoveries and tapped into new performance potential.
The Remote Workplace Needs Recognition Rituals Too
Story Highlights Remote employees miss out on spontaneous recognition The most meaningful feedback is authentic and individualized Improve company culture by recognizing those working from home A supervisor brings fresh donuts on Friday to celebrate the team exceeding production goals. Coworkers pass each other in the hallway, and one says, "Hey, great job on that presentation last week." A manager leaves a note of thanks on an employee's desk for rescuing a valuable customer relationship.
8 Behaviors of the World's Best Managers
This article originally appeared on Gallup.com. Shutterstock In nearly every dimension of business success, the manager makes the difference. From diversity and inclusion to productivity and retention, the manager plays a singular role in the life of an employee. In fact, Gallup's analysis has shown that the quality of a manager accounts for 70% of the variance in team engagement.
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.
2014 Omaha YP Summit
Consider yourself a superhero? You might leave the 2014 Young Professionals Summit convinced—and ready to make a difference in your community. by Ryan Pendell On March 6, over 1,500 young professionals in Omaha will converge on the CenturyLink Center for a day packed with fresh ideas, inspiring speakers, and an important message: You have the power to create the community you want. Consider yourself a superhero?
Management Advice From the 2019 Gallup Manager of the Year
Story Highlights Lead by example Be there when employees stumble Consistently challenge your best workers What makes a great manager? It might not be what you think. Managers who lead highly engaged teams listen to their employees, support them and explain how their performance connects to organizational success. Rather than always having great answers, they focus on asking great questions and adapt their approach to the unique personality of each employee.
8 Behaviors of the World's Best Managers
Story Highlights The world's best managers share how to lead successfully and navigate change The manager plays a singular role in the life of an employee In nearly every dimension of business success, the manager makes the difference. From diversity and inclusion to productivity and retention, the manager plays a singular role in the life of an employee. In fact, Gallup's analysis has shown that the quality of a manager accounts for 70% of the variance in team engagement.
How to Stop Your Managers From Talent Hoarding
Story Highlights Almost half of your employees may be at risk of turnover If managers hoard their talent, they will lose them Take two steps to fix talent attraction from the inside When your best employees believe that the only way up is out, you have a serious retention issue on your hands. According to Gallup's 2017 State of the American Workplace report, 51% of currently employed adults in the U.S. say they are searching for new jobs or watching for new job opportunities.
Want to Change Your Culture? Listen to Your Best People
Story Highlights Rather than receiving more messages, employees want to be heard High performers understand your business and customers best Taking action based on employee input positively impacts culture A big part of culture change and change management in an organization comes down to communication. However, according to Gallup's recent State of the American Workplace report, only 13% of U.S. workers strongly agree that their organization's leadership communicates effectively.
Employee Experience vs. Engagement
Due to a tightening labor market and a competitive global economy, highly talented individuals have a lot of freedom in where they choose to work. Pay isn’t the sole criteria that attracts and retains the best people. Employees want jobs that fit their lifestyle, give them opportunities to grow, and connect them to greater meaning and purpose. At the same time, the workplace is more transparent than ever.
6 Scary Numbers for Your Organization's C-Suite
"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose." - Bill Gates It's not the things we worry about that get us in the end, but the things we take for granted. In today's economy, perhaps more than ever, leaders are waking up to the fact that they can't take anything for granted and the old rules no longer apply. It can almost feel like, the more successful your organization, the more in danger you are. And that may be true.
Employee Experience vs. Engagement: What's the Difference?
Story Highlights Employee engagement is an ongoing part of the employee experience Employee experience is the journey an employee takes with your company What is the employee experience? Due to a tightening labor market and a competitive global economy, highly talented individuals have a lot of freedom in where they choose to work. Pay isn't the sole criteria that attracts and retains the best people.
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