Recent research showed that 32% of Americans would like to leave their current employers. That translates to 32% who are probably disengaged. The top five engagement factors (in order) were:

1. being treated with respect
2. work-life balance
3. the type of work that you do
4. the quality of people you work with
5. the quality of the organization’s leadership (tightly coupled with number 4)

These are obviously all leadership issues. But this research also indicates that employers are not in tune with employee needs and that perhaps employee expectations need to be better managed. When you do employee surveys, be sure to include some of the issues listed above and then put in place a process for leaders and employees to address these expectations together. In doing so, you will promote employee engagement while addressing issues important to employees.