Employees are experiencing a gratitude gap heres how its fueling burnout and turnover
No, thank you.While most Americans hustling the corporate grind feel underpaid, overworked and burned out — their oblivious managers seem to believe they’re doing a fine job of praising them.The official term for that disparity is the ever-widening “gratitude gap.”According to a recent Gallup poll, 60 percent of managers feel they successfully recognize their team’s efforts and contributions — with only 35 percent actually feeling appreciated.“One of the biggest mistakes leaders make is assuming that appreciation is understood,” Chairwoman of LeadHERship Global and best-selling author Linda Fisk told The Post.“Gratitude has to be expressed, not implied,” she added.“If a leader values someone’s contribution but never says it clearly, the employee may never feel truly seen.”And research shows that making people feel seen through an occasional attaboy goes a long way toward building goodwill and loyalty.A Gallup-Workhuman study found that employees who felt validated at work were 45 percent less likely to leave within two years.Further, those who reported getting valuable feedback about their performance from higher-ups were five times as likely to stay engaged.“When employees feel genuinely appreciated, they are more likely to stay committed and connected to the organization’s purpose,” said FiskFisk says gratitude shouldn’t be reserved for special occasions but rather part of an organization’s rhythm.“People rarely quit over one missed thank-you.
They quit over the slow accumulation of feeling unseen,” she said While gratitude plays a critical role in employee retention, it also has a significant bearing on burnout.According to a study published earlier this year, 80 percent of employees feel their jobs are responsible for their poor mental health, and almost 40 percent of respondents have quit a job because of it.This is critical to consider, as research continues to show that burnout lowers productivity and increases turn...