US Workers Languishing

Most US Workers Are Still Languishing — And the Gap Is Costing Organizations The 2026 Annual Workplace Wellbeing Report from the University of Illinois finds that 61% of US workers are languishing — struggling with engagement, motivation, or fulfillment — while only 39% report flourishing. Languishing employees experience 38% more frequent burnout and are significantly more likely to seek new employment within a year. The research underscores that wellbeing is not a perk but a strategic business imperative tied directly to retention and performance. If 61% of workers are languishing and we know the conditions that enable flourishing — purpose, strong relationships, psychological safety, human-centered leadership — what is one specific practice your team could adopt this week that would move even one person from languishing to genuinely thriving?