Employees Are Unhappy But Not Leaving

Line Chart: Overall Satisfaction and Intent to Leave Among U.S. Employees.

The Finding

U.S. employees are seeking new job opportunities at the highest rate since 2015, and overall satisfaction with their workplace declined to a record low in 2022 and 2024.

Why It Matters

During the Great Resignation in 2021, a sharp decline in employee engagement coincided with many employees leaving their current job for a new opportunity elsewhere.

Today, employees are similarly dissatisfied, but they aren't quitting. This new trend — the Great Detachment — presents a unique management challenge for leaders who see the need for transformational change in their organization.

The Full Story: The Great Detachment: Why Employees Feel Stuck

How Management Influences Employees' Emotions

Negative employee emotions peaked at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But they have not returned to normal. Employee stress, worry, anger and sadness are all at historically elevated levels.

The good news is that the way people are managed has a significant influence on their daily emotions. Employees who are engaged in their work and workplace are less likely to report daily negative emotions.

Bar Chart: U.S. Engaged Employees Least Likely to Experience Four Major Negative Emotions Daily

Explore: U.S. Worker Negative Emotions Stay Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

Lessons for Leaders: Level Up Your Employee Experience

Engagement — or a lack of — is an outcome of employees' experiences in the workplace.

How are you leading your organization to create an employee experience that engages your people?

Join us for an exclusive microlearning email series that shares our latest insights on how the employee experience influences engagement — and how your organization can improve both.

23%

of employees worldwide are engaged at work

Explore: 10 Lessons to Improve Employee Engagement

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