Employee Engagement Matters More Than Ever: The Human Relations Matrix 2.0 Can Help

Employee engagement in the United States has dropped to its lowest level in a decade. In 2024, only 31 percent of employees were actively engaged, a rate not seen since 2014. At the same time, 17 percent reported being actively disengaged, signaling growing detachment that impacts outcomes across the board (Gallup, 2024a).

This is not only a morale issue. Disengagement translates into real financial loss. Gallup (2023) estimates that disengaged employees cost the global economy $8.8 trillion annually, equal to 9 percent of global GDP. In the United States, Gallup places the yearly cost of disengagement at $450–550 billion (Gallup, 2013). McKinsey & Company (2020) further reports that a median S&P 500 company could lose around $282 million per year from disengagement and attrition.

When employees feel unseen, unclear in their roles, or unsupported in their growth, retention and productivity decline. Clarity, care, and connection are not luxuries in today’s workplace. They are the foundation of organizational health (Gallup, 2024b).

That is why we developed the Human Relations Matrix 2.0. It is the first trauma-informed employee engagement model designed for today’s fractured workplaces. Unlike older approaches, it recognizes that engagement is not just about perks or satisfaction. It is about belonging, trust, equity, and systems that make sense.

The Matrix integrates strategic levers such as leadership, decision making, and communication with tactical levers such as systems, training, and programs, all viewed through a trauma-informed lens. Safety, voice, trust, and fairness are not extras. They are essential.

In times of turbulence—when people feel disconnected by remote work, strained by change, or harmed by inequity—the Human Relations Matrix 2.0 provides structure. It grounds strategy in human need and helps leaders move beyond quick fixes toward practices that rebuild unity, health, and productivity at work.

If you are a leader, HR professional, or consultant seeking a healthier culture and stronger results, the Human Relations Matrix 2.0 offers more than a framework. It offers clarity and care.

Let us build workplaces that function for people and customers alike. Let us build workplaces where people thrive.

References

Gallup. (2013). State of the American workplace: Employee engagement insights for U.S. business leaders. Gallup, Inc. https://www.gallup.com

Gallup. (2023). State of the global workplace: 2023 report. Gallup, Inc. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx

Gallup. (2024a, January 31). Employee engagement sinks to 11-year low. Gallup, Inc. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/654911/employee-engagement-sinks-year-low.aspx

Gallup. (2024b, March 13). How to improve employee engagement in the workplace. Gallup, Inc. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/285674/improve-employee-engagement-workplace.aspx

McKinsey & Company. (2020, May 19). Diversity wins: How inclusion matters. https://www.mckinsey.com