The Workplace Experience Employees are Seeking

Cathie Leimbach • November 14, 2022

Today, more than ever, employees are looking for non-monetary benefits in the workplace. Even more important to them than money is well-being. They want their work to matter and they want the workplace to enrich their emotional health. They are seeking work that is aligned with their values, leverages their strengths, and enhances their sense of belonging.

Yet, currently, many are experiencing the opposite. Their work isn’t satisfying, isn’t a right-fit for their strengths, and is rife with negativity. At the end of the day, they often feel frustrated and emotionally drained.  41% of the workforce is looking for another job. At least 20% will change employers this year. It is estimated that orienting new employees and getting them up to speed costs US companies $500 billion per year. That is a huge drain on our economy.

Let’s understand more about the discouraging aspects of the employee experience. Below are the 5 top reasons employees quit. (The total is more that 100% because many people stated multiple reasons for leaving.)

 

Reasons Employees Quit

  1. Lack of career development opportunities (41%}
  2. Lack of competitive pay (36%)
  3. Uncaring/uninspiring leaders (34%)
  4. Lack of meaningful work (31%)
  5. Unsustainable work expectations (29%)

   

Which of the above are challenges at your workplace? If you don’t know but wish you did, contact Cathie Leimbach at cathie@agonleadership.com to explore doing a Free Culture and Engagement Survey within your company.

What can you and your organization do to improve your employees’ experience, reducing turnover and frustration? Watch for next week’s ezine for some actions that hit the mark.

The Performance Gap: Why Half Your Team is Burning Out

By Cathie Leimbach • September 30, 2025
Based on insights from James Hewitt's "Regenerative Performance" Something's not adding up in today's workplace. While companies demand more from their teams, the results tell a concerning story. Research shows that 50% of employees now show clear signs of burnout, and an alarming 73% feel disconnected from their work. James Hewitt, performance expert and author of "Regenerative Performance," points to a critical mismatch. We're asking people to perform at peak levels without giving them what they need to recover and recharge. Think of it like a smartphone. You can't expect your phone to run at full power all day without plugging it in. Yet that's exactly what we're doing to our workforce. We pile on meetings, deadlines, and pressure while cutting back on the very things that restore energy: breaks, development time, and meaningful connection. The solution isn't working less—it's working smarter. Hewitt's research reveals that sustainable high performance comes from balancing intense effort with intentional recovery. Teams that build in time to recharge actually outperform those that push through exhaustion. Smart leaders are already making the shift. They're protecting their people's energy as carefully as they manage their budgets. Because burned-out employees don't just hurt themselves—they hurt the bottom line too. Want to dive deeper into this issue? View The Burnout Crisis to understand the full scope of this workplace challenge. "Sustainable high performance comes from the rhythm of oscillation—not from the intensity of effort alone." —James Hewitt

Why Boring Beats Brilliant

By Cathie Leimbach • September 23, 2025
Craig Groeschel's Blueprint for Real Leadership