Have You Heard of The Great Detachment?

You’ve probably heard about the Great Resignation–when millions of employees left their jobs in search of something better. But now there’s a new trend unfolding in workplaces everywhere, and it’s a little more subtle, yet just as serious.

It’s called ‘The Great Detachment,’ and it’s not about physically leaving.

More and more employees are staying in their roles but feeling emotionally and mentally disengaged from their work. They’re not job hunting. They’re not storming out. But they’re also not invested, and for companies, that presents a very real risk.

Let’s talk about what’s causing it and what your organization can do about it.

What Is ‘The Great Detachment’?

The Great Detachment refers to a growing pattern where employees remain in their jobs but feel emotionally disconnected from their work and workplace. In MyPerfectResume’s survey of over 1,100 full-time U.S. workers:

• 79% said they feel detached from their jobs

• 82% admitted they’re doing the bare minimum to get by

• 44% feel lonely or isolated at work, and 56% say isolation decreases their productivity

It’s a deep, long-term disengagement issue that’s affecting morale, productivity, and retention across industries.

What’s Driving the Disconnection Among Employees?

According to Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace report, employee engagement in the U.S. dropped for the second year in a row, and two factors stand out:

• Lack of role clarity: Employees aren’t sure what’s expected of them

• Lack of purpose: Many don’t feel their work is meaningful or connected to a bigger mission

Other factors contributing to the trend include:

• Post-pandemic fatigue and organizational changes (layoffs, budget cuts, etc.)

• Hybrid work and remote isolation, leading to reduced interpersonal connection

• Poor communication and weak performance management systems

• A shift in employee values, with a stronger emphasis on meaning, balance, and contribution

Detachment may be flying under the radar because it typically doesn’t show up as conflict, but as compliance without commitment. On the surface, it may look like everything is functioning properly, but, behind the scenes, your team may be doing the bare minimum to get by without raising alarm bells.

Why Does a Detached Workforce Matter for Employers?

Disengaged employees cost U.S. companies an estimated $1.9 trillion annually in lost productivity, according to Gallup. And yet, many companies are still using outdated engagement tactics, like casual Fridays or random wellness perks, that are nice, but don’t address the root of the issue.

What today’s workforce is craving is connection to purpose, to people, and to a mission that feels real.

This is where corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs have the power to truly shine.

At Wish for Wheels, we partner with companies to bring teams together for a hands-on volunteer experience: building bikes for 7 and 8-year-olds in under-served communities.

With our Team Build & Give program, your employees build bikes in pairs or small groups while engaging in unique challenges. Then, we deliver the bikes to a local Title I school together, where your team has the chance to help fit the bikes for the children and teach them how to ride.

It’s simple, powerful, and emotionally impactful, which is exactly what disengaged employees need.

Why Partnering with Wish for Wheels Works to Re-Engage Employees

Programs like ours directly support what Gallup identifies as the 9 pillars of employee engagement, including:

• Purpose: Connecting to a mission that matters

• Teamwork: Building relationships through collaboration

• Recognition: Seeing the immediate impact of your work

• Well-being: Experiencing joy and reduced stress

• Growth: Being part of something meaningful beyond job duties

Plus, giving back as a team builds trust, working together to build the bikes improves communication, and a sense of pride contributes to a culture where people actually want to participate, not just skirt by.

As Harvard Business Review has reported, employees who engage in company-sponsored volunteer programs are more likely to feel connected to their colleagues and aligned with company values).

Bringing your team together for a shared purpose, where they can see the direct impact of their effort, is one of the most effective (and memorable) ways to re-engage your employees, and it only takes a few hours.

Learn more about bringing a Team Build & Give experience to your organization by contacting us or downloading more information.