The Workplace Engagement Index

This year’s report brings to light a persistent gap between how leaders perceive their workforce and the everyday experiences of their employees. While decision makers generally remain optimistic about the productivity, support, and engagement of their teams, our findings reveal that employee sentiment often lags behind these perceptions. 

Recognition and rewards remains fundamental to a high-performance culture, ranking as the number one driver of productivity for a second consecutive year. Our findings also highlight some interesting gaps between Australian and New Zealand employees that HR leaders need to be aware of. 

One of the biggest trends coming out of this year's research is the impact of feeling joy at work. This underrated performance lever can dramatically improve employee engagement, productivity, retention, connection, and support. Our research cements that joy is not a soft cultural concept, but a measurable economic force. 

Productivity is rising, with nearly two-thirds of employees reporting they frequently feel productive. Performance doesn’t improve in isolation; employees’ energy, focus, and resilience directly determine how effectively they work. That’s why stress and burnout are critical warning signs,  and why the downward trends we observed in both are encouraging.