FOR MONTHS NOW , leaders in business and government have pontificated about the causes of ( and solutions to ) the so-called Great Resignation , which has seen millions of workers in a wide variety of industries — including and especially the hospitality industry — leave their employers . The leverage many employees and job seekers have found in this tight labor market has led to increased demand for more flexible schedules , higher wages and more welcoming , supportive workplace cultures . Increasingly , it seems , employers who can ’ t or won ’ t meet those demands will lose workers to employers who can and will .

But what , exactly , is behind these shifts ? Is it really as simple as the pandemic pushing people to reassess what ’ s important about their lives , both at work and at home ? New data from Gallup and the American Psychological

Association ( APA ) suggests that that the answer may be yes … and no .

Low Engagement Rears Its Head A recent study conducted by polling organization Gallup provides an overview of the global workforce as we enter 2022 . The study measured , among other things , employee engagement , overall life satisfaction and stress levels . The goal ? To better understand employee well-being and the ways in which it affects nearly every aspect of the employeremployee relationship .

Taken broadly , the report offers some concerning data in a few areas . For example , Gallup found that , globally , just 20 percent of employees are engaged at work . That number is highest in the United States and Canada ( 34 percent ) and

48 PULSE ⁿ JANUARY 2022