Episode 82: Why Morale Is Tanking in Your Team (And What to Do About It)
Episode Description:
Burnout. Detachment. Disengagement. You’re seeing it - but are you fixing it?
In this episode of Don't Waste the Chaos, Kerri Roberts unpacks the alarming stats around low morale and employee burnout and why perks and pay raises won’t solve it. If trust is crumbling and your team feels “off,” this is your wake-up call.
Tune into hear:
Why “quiet quitting” is really quiet hurting
The top 3 causes of morale collapse and how to reverse them
What most leaders get wrong about engagement surveys
The simple move that rebuilds trust without spending a dime
How to read burnout before it breaks your business
If your people feel flat, distracted, or just done… this conversation is the mirror every leader needs.
Don’t ignore the signs. Lead through them.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Gallup 2023/2024 State of the Global Workplace Report
https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx
Gallup Engagement & Trust Data
https://www.gallup.com/workplace/236441/employee-engagement-drives-growth.aspx
Wellhub Global Workplace Study 2025
https://www.wellhub.com/en-us/resources/global-workplace-wellbeing-report/
Forbes article on 2025 burnout and return-to-office impact
https://www.forbes.com/search/?q=burnout%202025
New York Post article on Gen Z and Millennial burnout and resignations
https://nypost.com/2024/04/01/business/gen-z-millennials-quitting-jobs-burnout-inflation-fatigue/
Social Security Administration – 2024 COLA adjustment
https://www.ssa.gov/cola/
GAO (U.S. Government Accountability Office) – Reports on Return-to-Office mandates
https://www.gao.gov/
Investopedia – Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) overview
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cola.asp
Harvard Business Review – What Is Psychological Safety?
https://hbr.org/2023/01/what-is-psychological-safety
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Full Transcript:
Keywords Targeted: employee morale, workplace burnout, leadership presence, employee engagement, psychological safety, HR strategies, cost-of-living adjustment, team connection, workplace culture, low-cost morale boosters.
Kerri Roberts (00:02)
Welcome back to another episode of Don't Waste the Chaos. I’m your host, Kerri Roberts, and today we’re talking about a critical workplace issue—employee morale and burnout. This topic gets mentioned a lot, but most companies still aren’t addressing it effectively.
Have you noticed a strange energy on your team lately? People are physically present but mentally checked out? Let’s unpack why that’s happening and what leaders can do about it.
The Current State of Employee Engagement
Kerri Roberts (00:45)
Global engagement is shockingly low—only 21–23% of employees are actively engaged. Around 59% admit they’re doing just the bare minimum.
In the U.S., engagement has fallen from 36% in 2020 to 31% in 2023, and it’s still dropping. Gallup data shows only 32% of employees trust senior leaders, and just 29% trust their direct managers. This collapse in trust is damaging psychological safety at work.
When viral moments—like the Coldplay concert CEO video—hit the news, they only confirm existing doubts and make morale worse.
The High Cost of Low Morale and Burnout
Kerri Roberts (01:35)
Low morale isn’t just a “soft” HR problem—it’s expensive.
$350 billion lost annually in the U.S. due to disengaged employees.
Globally: $8.8 trillion, about 9% of global GDP.
Companies with high engagement outperform others with:
23% higher profitability
18% higher productivity
Up to 59% less turnover in high-turnover industries
Why Perks Alone Don’t Fix Morale
Kerri Roberts (02:15)
If morale is low, handing out perks won’t fix it. It starts with leadership presence. Leaders need to understand why morale is dipping—and the only way to do that is to ask employees directly, not assume.
A major mistake? Running engagement surveys and then doing nothing with the results. That erodes trust instantly.
Using AI to Unlock Employee Insights
Kerri Roberts (03:00)
Even if your survey data is a year or two old, it’s still valuable. Drop it into an AI tool and prompt it to act as a strategic organizational consultant:
Identify trends.
Highlight problem areas.
Recommend specific actions to improve engagement.
AI can’t implement the changes—but your HR team can ensure action plans are put in place, tracked, and communicated effectively.
Burnout Statistics Leaders Need to Know
Kerri Roberts (04:10)
Burnout is hitting record highs:
66% of workers report job burnout in 2025.
82% are at risk.
73% of Gen Z and 70% of millennials are considering quitting—citing burnout, repetitive tasks, lack of recognition, and financial insecurity.
Add in inflation fatigue—last year’s 3.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) meant that without a raise, employees effectively lost income.
Other Morale Killers: Social Disconnection & Uncertainty
Kerri Roberts (05:30)
It’s not just about pay. We’re seeing:
Less real-world community and connection.
Global uncertainty and instability.
Leaders avoiding necessary but hard conversations.
This leads to quiet quitting—or worse, employees quietly hurting while disengaged.
How Leaders Can Build Psychological Safety
Kerri Roberts (06:15)
Manager engagement has fallen from 30% to 27%, but trained, supported managers can lift team engagement to 70%.
Simple steps you can start today:
Weekly personal check-ins (“What’s going on in your world this week?”)
Normalize “I don’t know, but I’m listening”
Eliminate fear of retribution for honesty
Act quickly on survey results
Low-Cost Ways to Boost Team Morale
Kerri Roberts (07:10)
Not every morale booster needs a big budget. Try:
Recognition boards in common areas or chat channels
Weekly non-work icebreaker questions
Walk-and-talk meetings
Quarterly in-person connection events
“15 minutes of fame” intros for new hires
Final Takeaways
Kerri Roberts (08:00)
Morale is driven by trust, meaning, connection, and manageable stress—not just paychecks. Burnout is affecting two-thirds to four-fifths of your workforce right now.
Leaders can’t outsource morale—it starts with you. Flexible work and wellness programs aren’t perks anymore—they’re survival strategies.
If morale feels off, don’t just look at the org chart—look in the mirror. Take one intentional step today to truly see, hear, and recognize your team’s needs.
Don’t waste the chaos—embrace it.
