Imagine walking into work each and every day – and feeling utterly disconnected. You go through the motions, you get your work done. But there’s no spark, no sense of purpose.  

This feeling continues into your personal life, affecting your relationships with your partner, your children and your friends. 

It seems pretty hopeless, doesn’t it? 

But this is exactly what’s happening – right now – for a staggering 80% of employees according to Gallup’s new State of the Global Workplace Report 2024. 

In fact, it’s highly likely that you’re one of the 80%… 

So, what exactly is the Gallup report saying? 

Here’s a quick takeout of the report and its worrying findings. 

• 66% are struggling at work 

• 80% of workers are disengaged 

• 65% report a ‘toxic’ culture 

• 52% are watching for or actively seeking a new job 

Source: Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report 2024. 

As wellbeing champions, we at Pavelka are extremely concerned about this current state of the modern workplace.

These are people you know and love 

These statistics are alarming, no doubt about it. But it’s all too easy to simply get caught up in the numbers and forget the human beings they represent.  

Especially as leaders, you might be inclined to view these stats just like any another report – as something that can be solved with a few quick fixes or strategies. 

But that’s really not the case at all.  

Why? Because these are real people, not cogs in a machine. They’re your employees, your colleagues, but also your friends, your neighbors and your family.  

Let that sink in for a moment. All this disengagement, burnout, and yearning for a better work experience is likely happening within your own teams.

It’s a human story unfolding every day, and it’s a story that demands our attention here at Pavelka. It needs your attention too. 

Looking for the positive 

You’re probably wondering by now – is there anything good we can take away from all of this? 

We think there is – so here’s our take on the good news. As a leader, you play a role in changing the narrative.  

In fact – it has to start with you. Culture change always begins at the top. 

Your awareness of this issue is the first step towards creating a more positive and productive work environment for everyone in your organization. 

You must also remember that it’s not your fault! What we are seeing is systemic, so, please, there is no need to carry this as guilt. 

Instead, we’d like to reframe it this way – this is a fantastic opportunity to begin making real, meaningful changes for you and the people on your teams.  

Taking Action – Leading with Awareness 

Before you can address disengagement and burnout within your organization, you need to start with yourself. 

Be honest and ask yourself – are you one of the 80%? Are you disengaged at work?  

If you are, that needs to be addressed right now. No one can pour from an empty cup. And your teams will follow your lead and example, even if you’re not aware of it.  

Next steps… 

Right now, we’re putting together a comprehensive guide for leaders to tackle this problem head on. It will be ready to share in the next few weeks. 

Until then, why not take a look at our cheat sheet? It gives some practical actions you, as a leader, can take to increase your awareness now. 

By becoming more aware of your own wellbeing first, you will start to open up about the challenges we are all facing as humans in the modern workplace. It’s just small steps at this stage. But keep this in mind – you don’t want to be one of the statistics in the next Gallup report.