Employee Engagement is at an All-Time Low

Smart organizations aren’t waiting for it to affect their bottom line

The impact isn't always obvious at first.

Teams are moving faster, more connected digitally, and scaling with AI. Performance seems on target.

But is it? Or is the foundation beginning to erode because the way we work has changed?

Across industries, data and leadership insights point to the same pattern:

Employee engagement continues to decline
Feelings of isolation and disconnection are rising
Managers, once the drivers of engagement, are increasingly detached themselves
Customers and donors are feeling the lack of human connection resulting in diminished loyalty to the organization

This is more than a workplace trend. It’s a performance issue affecting the lives of employees, organizations and our global GDP.

Gallup reports that there were $10 trillion in lost productivity in 2025, 9% of global GDP.

What's Changed?

Employees have not lost their ability to perform. What is absent is consistent, day-to-day interactions that shape how people communicate, connect, and work together.

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Individual contributors who deliver strong results often struggle to communicate effectively with other departments, creating friction and fragmentation.

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Teams that are aligned on goals may differ on process and lack collaboration.

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Leaders who started technically strong may be short on the soft skills to manage people.

Screens have replaced depth with speed

EQ is declining with lack of human connection

Isolation impacts all stakeholders

Organizations are not dealing with a lack of talent. They are dealing with a lack of connection.

Why rebuilding connections at work is now a performance priority

Human centered leadership sustains results
Employees look to leaders for clarity and direction. Technology can increase efficiency, but it cannot replace the human ability to lead, communicate, and build confidence.

How people work together drives outcomes
When teams are aligned, collaborating across silos, work moves faster and more effectively. When it isn't, execution slows, friction increases, and results become harder to sustain.

Employees stay where they feel connected

People are more likely to remain engaged and committed when they feel seen, supported, and connected to the people they work with, which strengthens retention rates.

Personal connection builds a culture of trust

Clients, customers, and donors experience stronger relationships, greater consistency, and increased confidence in the organization and its employees.

Why Peer Connection Matters

A sense of isolation in the workplace affects both the physical and mental health of employees. And, it is one of the biggest indicators of performance. But conversations aren’t happening around this sensitive topic.

Not in large group trainings ... Not in performance reviews.

And not when HR is formally leading the discussion.

But they are happening between unhappy employees - discontent breeds discontent.

People don’t change how they communicate, lead, or manage their emotions at work by short training programs alone. They change through practice, reflection, and real conversation.

Why Peer Facilitation Works

Rebuilding a sense of connection doesn’t require a costly initiative. It starts with planting small seeds through relevant weekly topics that encourage connection and personal growth. When awareness is coupled with practice, both soft skills and EQ are bettered.

Weekly content is supported with opportunities to be heard in a safe environment with a group of peers who want their personal and work life to be more rewarding.

These small, peer-led groups create space for employees to:

Talk openly about shared challenges
Practice communicating on real, relevant topics
Build trust across teams
Strengthen the skills that directly impact performance

There isn't a single solution to this problem. But Solutionaries Academy offers some practical ways to begin shifting attitudes.

Great-itude Email Journey

$240

(for ten employees)

A 52-week guided experience designed to strengthen connection, communication, and emotional intelligence through short weekly reflections and optional audio lessons.

What it includes:

Weekly email reflections
Audio option for every lesson
Mobile-friendly access
Real-world workplace examples
Team reflection prompts
$24 per participant annually
(10 participants minimum with the option for more)

Start the Great-itude Email Journey

Train-the-Trainer Peer Facilitation System

$950

(for three facilitators)

An optional facilitation add-on designed for organizations that want to bring Great-itude conversations into team meetings, peer groups, or leadership development initiatives.