The Great Detachment: Why employees are increasingly dissatisfied with their jobs

(KRON) — From the “Great Resignation” to the “Great Detachment?” That’s where we are now, according to a new survey. Across the country, employees are feeling stuck and “increasingly detached from their jobs,” according to the survey from Gallup, which came out earlier this month.

With overall satisfaction toward employers at a record low, American workers are seeking new job opportunities at the highest rate since 2015. But unlike a few years ago, when we were in the midst of the “Great Resignation,” they’re increasingly finding that the opportunities simply aren’t there for them.

Factors like a cooling job market and continued inflation are leaving many workers feeling stuck and mired in discontent, according to Gallup, which has branded this moment the “Great Detachment.”

According to Gallup, the number of employees who feel “extremely satisfied” with their current job has plummeted since 2022. Meanwhile, the number of those “watching or actively seeking a new job” has spiked over the same time period.

What this means for employers

While the reduction in turnover might seem like good news for employers, Gallup warns that concerns over employee productivity and talent loss down the road might pose “hidden organizational risks.” Employee detachment, Gallup also said, could lead to indifference or resistance to organizational change initiatives.

What’s causing the ‘Great Detachment?’

Apart from a contracting job market, Gallup cited a number of factors behind growing feelings of employee detachment and dissatisfaction. They include:

• Rapid organizational change: Post-2020, employees have reported a spike in disruptive change with managers being asked to restructure teams amid budget cuts
• Hybrid and remote growing pains: Physical distance inherent to remote work creates emotional distance with Gallup saying fully remote workers were less connected to their organization’s mission or purpose.
• New customer expectations: More than half of employees surveyed noticed changes in customer expectations since the pandemic, including higher expectations for a better digital experience.
• New employee expectations: During the pandemic, employees reevaluated expectations, factoring in work-life balance, better compensation, and remote work flexibility. Gallup said a “mismatch between what employees expect and what employers can offer can leave employees feeling undervalued and questioning their future.”
• Broken performance management practices: According to Gallup, many organizations lack a “reliable way to clarify expectations, align teams, recognize achievements and develop employees.”

Employees feel “disoriented and disconnected” as a result of these shifts, Gallup said.

What is the solution?

According to Gallup, employers need to focus on two factors:

• Clarify expectations at work
• Connect employees to organizational mission and purpose

Resetting expectations and making sure employees know what is expected of them at work can help workers and employers reach an “agreed-upon standard for success,” the survey said. To reengage workers with mission and purpose, employers must “communicate an inspiring vision that people want to get behind,” Gallup said.

The survey goes on to say that “by addressing two declining elements of engagement — clear expectations and mission or purpose — leaders can turn these risks into game-changing strengths.”

Boosting clarity of expectations, according to Gallup, can lead to a 9% increase in profitability and an 11% increase in quality of work. Meanwhile, improving employee connection to mission or purpose can lead to a 32% drop in turnover and a 15% improvement in productivity.

“Organizations that deliver on these two critical needs will build a more committed workforce and inspire their people’s best work,” Gallup said. “That’s good for employees, employers and their customers.”