Gallup Analytics Reveals Engagement among Millennials Working Remotely

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A Gallup Analytics report highlighted a surprise effect of the pandemic and the rise of remote working as a reality for many. According to a November 2020 survey, since 2019, when a national average of only 35 percent of Millennials felt engaged at work, the number has risen to 75 percent.

This is attributed by Gallup’s principal predictive analytics researcher to the better-than-expected reality of new remote working conditions. The percentage of Millennials who report being engaged is higher among those able to work remotely, versus those who work on-site. One statistical caution is that the response may be exaggerated by the risks associated with holding a public-facing job or working alongside colleagues.

One variable that led to increased engagement in those surveyed was a strong plan of action on the employer’s part. A higher percentage of remote working Millennials strongly agreed with the statement that a clear plan had been communicated regarding steps to be taken due to COVID-19. Sixty-five percent of remote-working Millennials who felt strongly that their immediate supervisor kept them informed about organizational realities also felt engaged overall.

The bottom line is that, for younger members of the workforce, a sense of feeling holistically engaged with an organization has more to do with their leaders’ behaviors than where their work is performed. Whether this points to a long-term trend of remote work remains to be seen, but it does provide a silver lining to those who fear for the future of the workplace.