The mounting cost of employee burnout, and how to stop it

We optimized work for efficiency, and optimized out humanity. Steelcase sociologist Dr. Tracy Brower on why disconnection is costing employers $13,300 per employee, and three research-backed fixes. For more stories, ideas, and advice from changemakers tackling our biggest challenges, subscribe to Stand Together ►    / standtogethercc   --------- Work was optimized for efficiency. Along the way, something got lost. Today, disconnected employees cost organizations an average of $13,300 a year — and most employers are looking for the answer in the wrong places. Dr. Tracy Brower, sociologist and VP of Workplace Insights at Steelcase, has spent decades studying what makes people — and bottom lines — thrive. Her finding: purpose at work doesn't come from perks, ping pong tables, or escape room parties. It comes from connection. And connection isn't a feel-good idea. It's a competitive advantage. The data backs it up. 50% of workers say they would trade a 10% salary increase for a genuine sense of belonging. When people feel connected to their colleagues and their work, retention increases, performance improves, and innovation follows. And the reverse is equally true: when organizations optimize for efficiency at the expense of human connection, they pay for it. Tracy outlines three research-backed ways employers can build connection into the nature of work itself — from designing roles around shared goals, to giving employees visibility for their skills, to creating physical spaces that foster belonging. The approach works across industries: on the factory floor, behind the counter, and in hybrid and remote work environments. The future of work isn't less work. It's more human and purpose-driven work. -------- Watch more videos about the changemakers transforming the future of work across America in our playlist ►    • Future Of Work   And visit Stand Together’s website to learn more ► https://standtogether.org/