Only 1 in 5 employees are engaged at work. Let’s change that.

Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report delivers a concerning headline: only 21% of employees worldwide are engaged — a two-point drop from last year, matching 2020’s pandemic-era lows. 

This time, the decline isn’t driven by lockdowns, but by a steep drop in manager engagement. Only 27% of managers report being engaged, with the sharpest declines among younger and female leaders. Since managers influence up to 70% of a team’s engagement, the impact is already being felt across organizations. 

But the data also points to a solution. When employees feel connected to meaningful work, engagement rebounds. At Global Impact, we help companies reignite that connection through workplace giving, volunteering, and social impact initiatives that are both meaningful and easy to implement. 

Read on to explore how key insights from Gallup’s 2025 report align with actionable, purpose-driven strategies that can help your organization turn disengagement into renewed energy. 

• Gallup reports: Only 21% of global employees are engaged at work, one of the lowest rates in over a decade. 
  • Global Impact says: Engagement starts with purpose. When employees are empowered to support causes they care about, they feel more connected to their company and one another. Check out key insights from “Driving Employee Engagement,” our new corporate giving white paper, to learn more about how purpose-driven programs can boost morale, retention, and pride. 

• Gallup reports: Manager engagement dropped from 30% to 27%, with the sharpest declines among young and female managers. 
  • Global Impact says: Managers don’t need more systems — they need support. If you’re managing your workplace giving campaign, a partnership with one of our Charity Alliance members makes it easy for you to engage your colleagues with purpose. Learn how you can host a turnkey employee engagement event with a leading international charity to showcase your campaign’s impact, your company’s purpose, and your employees’ passions. 

• Gallup reports: Half of all employees are watching for or actively seeking a new job. 
  • Global Impact says: Retention starts with connection. Creating space for employees to unite around a shared cause can reignite loyalty and strengthen workplace culture. Even a single event can spark a sense of purpose and belonging. Explore our Employee Engagement Opportunities resource for ideas to help you take the first step. 

• Gallup reports: Engaged employees are 1.5 times more likely to be thriving in life overall. 
  • Global Impact says: Purpose at work boosts wellbeing. Giving programs help reduce stress, build pride, and foster a sense of belonging — all of which contribute to a more resilient and sustainable workplace culture. A meaningful employee engagement program is one way to show employees you care; another is to launch an Employee Assistance Fund (EAF) that provides employees with financial support in their time of need. Whether they’re recovering from a natural disaster or from a personal hardship, an EAF shows you care about your workforce in and out of the office. 

• Gallup reports: $9.6 trillion in productivity could be unlocked globally if engagement improves. 
  • Global Impact says: One single giving campaign event can’t change your employee engagement numbers overnight; these efforts have to be baked into your workplace culture. How does your workplace giving campaign intersect with your company’s mission and other corporate social responsibility goals? Are you highlighting charitable causes and hosting volunteer opportunities that align with your mission and your employees’ interests? Are your employees empowered to champion the causes they want? Our Employee Giving Hub is full of resources to ensure your campaign is a success, from engaging employee resource groups (ERGs) in your campaign to involving senior leadership in your campaign. 

The path forward doesn’t require reinventing your culture — just reconnecting it to purpose. A single act of impact can go a long way in rebuilding engagement, trust, and energy across your organization. So, let’s get started! Reach out for one-on-one support from our team of experts.