As organizations cut manager roles, the workers left behind are losing faith in pay, security, and fairness—and the work itself is no longer enough to keep them engaged.
By Gillian Manning
Employee motivation is sliding and the managers meant to hold teams together are running on empty, according to new research from Korn Ferry. The firm’s Workforce 2026 Global Insights Report, which surveyed more than 16,000 professionals across 11 markets, found that workers are 15% less motivated by their employers to do their best work than they were a year ago.
Across the global workforce, motivation has decreased by nine percentage points. Korn Ferry’s findings connect this shift to eroding morale around pay, job security, and fairness, as those are the top factors workers now consider when looking for a new job. The work itself as a factor has dropped from that list of top three considerations.
“Being able to connect to something bigger than yourself—that feeling of caring about the company mission and the impact of your work. That’s the fuel that drives ROI,” says Jenna Young of Korn Ferry.
The strain is most apparent at the manager level: 42% of organizations cut manager roles this year, and about half of those left say they’re exhausted. Forty-five percent say they’re now too busy to deliver meaningful results.
“Being a manager can feel like the worst job in the world, yet it’s among the most valuable for the business,” says Roger Philby of Korn Ferry. “When managers burn out, you lose the glue that holds everything together.”
Korn Ferry’s report also found that:
- 45% of respondents report being stretched beyond their capabilities at work;
- 39% say the lack of managers at their organization leaves them feeling directionless;
- 64% say their organization focuses more on driving efficiencies than on exploring new ways to add value; and
- 49% say they’re exhausted by the pace of change at their organization.
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