Workplace culture has always been a slippery thing to measure—more vibe than metric—but O.C. Tanner’s latest research suggests it’s never been more urgent to get right. The company’s 2026 Global Culture Report, unveiled at its annual Influence Greatness Conference, warns of an “epidemic of hopelessness” spreading through the workforce as employees wrestle with economic instability, relentless change, and the rapid rise of new technologies.
Drawing from a massive survey of nearly 39,000 employees, leaders, and HR practitioners across 23 countries, the report zeroes in on what’s driving disengagement and what companies can do to turn workplaces from draining environments into sources of energy, inspiration, and innovation.
“Amid economic uncertainty, changing market expectations, and rapidly expanding technologies, employees are experiencing an epidemic of hopelessness about their futures,” said Gary Beckstrand, Vice President of the O.C. Tanner Institute. “Through our research, we found that the antidote to hopelessness is inspiration, and organizations can transform hope into an active process through strong leadership support and purposeful recognition.”
Key Findings: Inspiration, Hope, and Transparency Matter
The report highlights five cultural levers that can transform organizations into thriving, high-performing environments:
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Inspiration drives performance. Inspired employees are 6x more likely to do great work and 14x more likely to stay with their employer. O.C. Tanner stresses that inspiration isn’t a mystical force—it’s built through meaningful interactions with leaders and peers.
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Hope fuels innovation. Employees who actively practice hope—by setting realistic goals supported by leaders—are 5x more likely to innovate and 7x more likely to be engaged.
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Inclusion must be daily, not annual. Companies that embed inclusive behaviors into everyday practice see employees 7x more likely to feel they belong and 9x more likely to feel community.
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High expectations require high support. Ambition alone can break people. But when leaders pair high standards with recognition and mental health support, burnout risk drops by 88%, depression by 47%, and anxiety by 44%.
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Transparency builds trust. Employees want clarity in daily operations, not just during big announcements. Practicing transparency at all levels makes workers 5x more likely to feel respected and cuts depression risk by 40%.
The Balancing Act of High Performance
“The emphasis on high performance in a time of great change has never been more intense,” said Mindi Cox, O.C. Tanner’s Chief People and Marketing Officer. “This research comes at a critical time when organizations are asking for more and employees are sharing the conditions they need to give it – when high expectations meet high support, everyone thrives.”
The bigger message? Cultures that prioritize inspiration, inclusion, and transparency don’t just keep employees happy—they build profitability and resilience. For HR leaders, that means culture work isn’t soft stuff anymore; it’s strategy.
The full 2026 Global Culture Report is available at octanner.com/global-culture-report
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Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Public relations, investor relations, public policy and marketing professionals rely on Business Wire for secure and accurate distribution of market-moving news and multimedia. Founded in 1961, Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources via its multi-patented NX network. Business Wire’s global newsrooms are available to meet the needs of communications professionals and news media worldwide.
