Employee motivation is on a decline – and a lack of employee engagement is highly impacting productivity across businesses in the US. The ADP Research Institute, an arm of the major US payroll-processing firm, published its monthly Employee Motivation and Commitment Index – and the data is causing some debate.Surveying 2,500 respondents each month, ADP looks for signs of employee engagement, resilience, and connection to their work. In August, the index stood at 100 – its lowest since June 2022, and down from a peak of 121 in December.ADP contends that a value of 100 still shows employees remain relatively committed and motivated, but there are still growing concern about the state of employee motivation in the US. Many experts and analysts suggest that employee motivation is currently at an all-time low. But what are the contributing factors and should employers really be worried about it? The employee landscapeIt’s been over three years since the beginning of the pandemic, but still, its lasting impact on our ways of working is still felt across the world. Many workers still find themselves struggling to balance their personal and professional lives, leading to burnout and decreased motivation.Added to this have been the financial pressures of rising inflation, and this is exacerbating anxieties. At this time – looking after employee wellbeing has never been more critical. Driving positive change around physical and mental health is no longer simply about mitigating risk, it’s a core element of building motivated teams with the potential to thrive in a turbulent economic climate.What do employees say? According to our surveys commissioned by YuLife in partnership with YouGov, the past year has seen 56% of working adults in the US either starting a new job or looking for one. Just 40% have not considered looking for a new job.And the trend seems certain to continue into 2024. A large 40% of US working adults say they're likely to consider changing jobs within the next 12 months. Only 31% say it's not likely at all that they'll consider changing jobs within this timeframe. Again, the young are most likely to follow this trend, with 60% of 18- to 24-year-olds in the US likely to consider moving jobs within the next year, compared with just 18% (US) of those aged 55+. And with low employee retention come high costs to the business. Should we be concerned?The state of employee motivation in the United States is a cause for concern, but it is not necessarily a cause for panic. While low motivation can lead to reduced productivity and increased turnover, it is a problem that can be addressed with the right strategies.Pay is the obvious conclusion here – and as you might expect, our surveys showed that 42% of working adults in the US say that if they were planning on leaving their current role, their current employer would likely be able to persuade them to stay by offering a pay raise. Just 19% say they’d likely be persuaded without one.But it isn’t the only influencing factor: 32% of US employees say allowance of more paid time off, 31% say greater flexibility on working arrangements, and 30% say more employee benefits.“Strong connections with a company come from understanding and buying into its mission and values. Businesses need to demonstrate that they care,” says Lauren Berkemeyer, CMO of YuLife. There are many ways a company can facilitate this, but perhaps the most important is investing in employee wellbeing. Introducing initiatives that substantially improve your employees’ lives shows that you genuinely value them. And as a result, they will feel appreciated on a deeper level. Read more about how to build employee engagement in our HR leaders' guide here.About YuLifeYuLife is an employee benefits and wellbeing app that’s reimagining the insurance industry by protecting lives, rewarding living and inspiring life. We’re on a mission to transform traditional insurance into a life-enhancing experience each employee will value and use daily. How does it work? Our award-winning app uses behavioral science and game mechanics to reward your people for living well while offering protection in case of crisis.And with our top-rated employee assistance program, your team gets access to mental, financial and social support, nutritionists, life coaches and more to help them live their best lives.Because we believe that your employees should benefit from their insurance from day one – and that wellbeing should be accessible every day, for everyone.Request a demo for your team today.