Why is everyone talking about… 'the Great Detachment'?

Do your employees seem detached? Experts this week have warned that we are headed into ‘the Great Detachment’ i.e. an increase in ‘productivity theatre’ and ‘performative busyness’, according to Business Insider.

This is happening against a landscape of increasing employee disengagement around the world, resulting in more than $8 trillion (£6.2 trillion), according to Gallup. The biggest drop in engagement is in the millennial and Gen Z cohort, with millennials dropping from 39% to 32%, while Gen Z employees have dropped from 40% to 35%.

But before we rush to accuse these generations of laziness, we should consider how disengagement can come more from poor work-life balance or lack of transparency, amongst other factors. So, what can HR leaders do to combat the ‘Great Detachment’ in their organisation?

“Despite our best efforts, many companies still struggle with engagement. The challenge lies in understanding why engagement is low and taking proactive steps to create a positive environment, recognise contributions and foster a culture of trust and collaboration“, says Niki Kerr, Personal & Business Growth Expert. 

Especially as transparency is such a priority for younger employees, clear communication is key here, explains Niki: “The benefits of employee engagement are too significant to ignore. We need to start the process of increasing engagement with effective communication. Investing time and resources into optimising communication within our organisation ensures that employees are engaged and happy.”

Ultimately, it comes down to building a brilliant employee experience where your employees feel valued. This is only possible through strengthening your culture, encouraging two-way communication on issues that may be causing detachment for your employees, and of course, making data-backed decisions and prioritisations.

• Prioritise employee experience: Create a positive and supportive work environment through effective onboarding, continuous development, flexible work arrangements and recognition programs.

• Strengthen your culture: Foster a strong company culture based on open communication, shared values and employee well-being. Use your employee surveys to prioritise tackling the biggest concerns.

• Measure and improve: Regularly assess employee engagement, gather feedback and use this data to refine HR strategies and drive positive change for employees who may feel detached from your organisation.

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That's all for this week's edition of Personio Pulse: This Week in HR. Check back next week as we continue to dissect the latest trends impacting the ways we work. 

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