McLean & Company’s 2025 Employee Engagement Trends Report provides an in-depth analysis of engagement survey data from over 216,000 employees across 236 organizations. Despite economic uncertainty in 2024, overall engagement remained stable, with 62.6% of employees classified as engaged. However, the report highlights key areas of concern that require proactive measures, including work-life balance, leadership burnout, communication gaps, and career development challenges.
Findings from the Report:
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Work-Life Balance Improves, but Leadership Burnout Persists
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Work-life balance increased by 1.1 points in 2024, reflecting better flexibility and well-being initiatives.
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Managers experience higher stress, with leadership burnout reported 1.7 times more than non-managers.
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Compensation Satisfaction Stagnates Amid Inflation Concerns
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Despite rising cost-of-living challenges, employee satisfaction with total compensation remains unchanged.
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Organizations must adopt comprehensive total rewards strategies to align with employee expectations.
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Communication Gaps in Executive Leadership Continue
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Only 53.2% of employees understand the rationale behind executive decisions, marking a slight decline.
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Transparent leadership communication is crucial for engagement, particularly during uncertainty.
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Career Advancement and Development Remains a Challenge
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Employees receiving meaningful feedback are 5.7 times more likely to feel supported in career growth.
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Upskilling, mentorship programs, and clear career pathways are essential for fostering employee development.
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Strong Co-Worker Relationships Enhance Engagement
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78% of employees report positive relationships with colleagues.
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Organizations should encourage mentorship, collaboration, and team-building to strengthen workplace culture.
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Takeaways for Sustaining Engagement in 2025:
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Continuous Employee Listening: Regular engagement measurement and action plans are more effective than annual surveys.
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Transparent Leadership Communication: Senior executives must improve clarity and transparency in decision-making.
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Proactive Career Growth Strategies: Career development initiatives, upskilling, and structured feedback are essential.
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Holistic Employee Well-being: Addressing work-life balance and leadership burnout will be critical in retaining talent.
McLean & Company’s 2025 Employee Engagement Trends Report underscores the need for data-driven, proactive engagement strategies. Organizations that focus on ongoing engagement measurement, leadership transparency, and career development will be better positioned to retain talent, enhance productivity, and build a resilient workforce.
