The Great Detachment

The workplace is facing a new challenge: “The Great Detachment.” According to a Gallup December article, employees are increasingly dissatisfied and disconnected, even as quit rates decline. Unlike the Great Resignation, workers are staying put due to a cooling job market and inflation, but they’re feeling stuck and disengaged. This hidden discontent poses risks to productivity, talent retention, and organizational change initiatives. 😓

Gallup identifies five key drivers: rapid organizational changes post-2020, hybrid/remote work challenges, evolving customer expectations, shifting employee demands (e.g., work-life balance, better pay), and broken performance management systems. Notably, fewer than half of employees clearly understand their role expectations—a sharp drop since 2021, especially among younger, new, hybrid, and white-collar workers. This lack of clarity, coupled with a disconnect from company mission and purpose, fuels disengagement. 📉

Leaders can address this by focusing on two critical areas: resetting expectations and reinforcing mission alignment. Clear, two-way conversations about roles and goals can establish a shared standard for success. Meanwhile, connecting employees to the organization’s purpose—through mission-driven discussions and customer feedback—can reignite pride and engagement. Gallup’s data shows employees who regularly discuss customer needs are 3.2 times more likely to feel their work matters and 4.5 times prouder of their output.💡

Resolution of the Great Detachment calls for a new leadership approach. By tackling these vulnerabilities, organizations can rebuild commitment, boost performance, and create a workplace where employees thrive—not just survive.

#workplaceculture #cpacareers #employeeengagement #greatdetachment