You might have seen the headlines: global employee engagement has dipped again — from 23% to 21% according to Gallup’s 2025 State of the Global Workplace report. Cue the usual hand-wringing.
But here’s a question we don’t ask enough: Why are we surprised?
After 20+ years of trying to ‘fix’ engagement, we’re still treating it like a problem to solve — rather than an outcome of something much bigger: the experience of work.
To borrow a metaphor I shared in a recent webinar — blaming employee engagement for not improving is like blaming the scales when the diet doesn’t work. Engagement is the result. It’s what happens when people feel supported, valued, challenged, connected, and safe.
But over the past two decades, we’ve spent billions on engagement surveys and dashboards — and relatively little on designing the actual experiences that make engagement possible.
The diet has been all data, no nutrients.
Engagement works — when we design for it
Let’s be clear: engagement matters. It’s not a buzzword, it’s good news — for people and for performance.
- According to Gallup, engaged employees have lower absenteeism, higher productivity, and are significantly less likely to leave.
- For individuals, engagement is closely linked to wellbeing. People who are engaged at work are more likely to feel fulfilled, optimistic, and psychologically safe.
So of course we want engagement. Of course we want our people to thrive. The mistake isn’t wanting engagement, the mistake is thinking we can measure our way there.
It’s time to shift from measuring to designing
If we want engagement to improve, we need to get serious about Employee Experience (EX).
That means moving beyond annual pulse checks and towards intentionally designing the moments, systems, and environments that shape the day-to-day experience of work. From onboarding to meetings, manager relationships to recognition – every touchpoint is an opportunity to create value…..or frustration.
This is where EX methodologies like design thinking, journey mapping, and service design come in. These aren’t just for customers anymore, they’re the tools that can help us co-create better workplaces.
A better way forward
Instead of asking, why hasn’t engagement improved?, let’s ask:
- What are we doing to make work worth engaging with?
- How are we designing experiences that invite contribution, connection, and meaning?
- Are we building a culture that supports not just productivity, but people?
Because when we do that — engagement follows.
If you’re ready to start designing experiences that truly drive engagement, we can help.
At People Lab, we partner with organisations to bring human-centred approaches to life – whether that’s through strategy, design, or practical support to turn insight into action. Get in touch to see how we can help you…
Or, if you’d prefer to lead the change yourself, EX Space membership gives you access to the tools, templates, and on-demand learning you need to build your capability and make an impact in your organisation – your way.
