Employee Engagement Has Lost 8 Million Workers Since 2020
U.S. engagement has been flat for two years, but the five-year slide tells a different story. And it's not coming from where most organizations are looking.
More issues
How do I manage someone who only does exactly what they're told and nothing more?
They're technically fine, and fine is eating your team alive.
Productivity Grew 2.2% in 2025
The economy got more efficient last year. The gains didn't distribute evenly, and manufacturing is running in the opposite direction entirely.
The Promotion Clock
Losing one promotion-ready employee doesn't cost you one person. It costs you the three who were watching.
How do I manage my most technically skilled employee when they're poisoning the team?
One toxic team member can reduce overall team productivity by 30 to 40 percent. Your star might be costing you more than they're making you.
Americans Spend 35 Minutes a Day Socializing
Down from 43 minutes a decade ago, and your workforce brought that deficit to work with them.
How do I enforce RTO when my best people are the ones ignoring it?
Your top performer isn't in the office. Now what?
2025 Job Growth Was 181,000, Not 584,000
The labor market was 403,000 jobs weaker in 2025 than what was reported.
The Retention Paradox
By the time an employee tells you they're unhappy, the departure is often just a matter of logistics. Yet most organizations spend their retention budget precisely at that moment, when it's least likely to work.
How do I give a raise recommendation when I don't control the budget?
You don't control the budget. But that's not actually what your employee is asking about.
Producer Prices Rose 0.5% in January, Led By Services
Goods prices are falling. Services prices just posted their biggest monthly jump since July 2025. For managers in labor-intensive industries, the inflation story isn't over.
How do I manage someone who thinks they should have gotten my job?
The instinct is to win them over. That's exactly the wrong move.