Latest news with #JonClifton
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Poor Workforce Engagement Cost World Economy $438 Billion In 2024
The global percentage of engaged employees slipped from 23% to 21% in 2024, with managers ... More particularly demotivated and disengaged. Workforce engagement declined around the world last year, costing the global economy about $438 billion in lost productivity, according to new research conducted by Gallup. According to the consultancy, the percentage of employees around the world who indicated that they felt 'engaged' at work slipped from 23% to 21% in 2024, with managers feeling particularly demotivated and disengaged. Over the past 12 years, this measure has only declined twice, Gallup noted, the other time being in 2020. And last year's two-point drop was equal in scale to the decline that occurred in that year, as Covid-19 upended work and life and forced billions of people into lockdown. 'We are witnessing a pivotal moment in the global workplace,' wrote Gallup CEO Jon Clifton in commenting on the findings, noting that engagement is faltering just as artificial intelligence is transforming every industry. 'While few employees have harnessed AI's full potential, its rapid advance will force every organization to adapt, whether they are ready or not,' Clifton added. The decline in managers' engagement was particularly stark across all ages and genders, but young, female managers were most affected. Engagement among managers younger than 35 fell by 5 percentage points between 2023 and 2024 while female manager engagement dropped by 7 percentage points. In addition to only 21% of respondents saying that they felt engaged last year, some 62% said that they were 'not engaged,' which was unchanged from the previous year, and 17% said that they were actively 'disengaged,' a rise of 2 percentage points from 2023. When asked to evaluate their lives, 58% said that they were 'struggling' and 9% said that they were 'suffering' with only 33% saying that they were 'thriving.' Reflecting on the job market, half of all respondents said that they were watching for or actively seeking a new job. In terms of geography, the United States and Canada topped the rankings in terms of engagement, with 31% of employees saying that they feel engaged, compared to just 13% across Europe. Gallup's research on employee engagement is conducted annually. A total of 227,347of respondents were polled for the 2024 numbers with data obtained between April 2024 to December 2024.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Readers sound off on money in politics, N.Y. public land and a mother's pain
Western Springs, Ill.: Finland is rated the world's happiest country for the eighth straight year. The United States has fallen to 24th, its lowest-ever position. Country rankings were based on answers people gave when asked to rate their lives. 'Happiness isn't just about wealth or growth — it's about trust, connection, and knowing people have your back. If we want stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters: each other,' said Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, one of the study's conductors. Investing in good education and health care for everyone is where the U.S. has plenty room for improvement. However, our political system is dominated by billionaires and corporations that often have different, self-serving priorities and are able to make unlimited political contributions. One billionaire or corporation can buy more political speech than tens of millions of ordinary people combined. Elon Musk contributed more than a quarter of a billion dollars to influence the 2024 election. He recently contributed millions of dollars to influence a Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Should any one person have this much power and influence — so much more than anyone else? Unlimited contributions were permitted by the Supreme Court's 5-4 precedent-overturning 2010 Citizens United decision, with the five justices in the majority appointed by Republican presidents. If we want to end the dominance of billionaires and corporations and get government to work for everyone, we must replace big money in politics with public funding of election campaigns, which is working well at state and local levels at nominal cost to citizens. Richard Barsanti Bronx: Re 'Suffocating NYC tourism' (editorial, April 7): Of course the Daily News Editorial Board would like to blame President Trump for the decline in NYC tourism. I notice there was no mention of some recent news stories that went viral on social media. Do you not think a video of someone being set ablaze or shoved into the path of a moving train would give people pause? Or maybe the lines of illegal immigrants lining up for housing in Midtown hotels? How about police being assaulted in Times Square? This is what suffocates tourism, and it's New York's progressive leadership that's to blame. Chuck Shannon Brooklyn: Just imagine a situation in which a U.S. president wanted to intentionally crash our stock market and then buy into it at its lowest point in order to amass a fortune for himself as it rises again. Could that be happening now? Yes, you can call me paranoid. David I. Goldstein Oceanside, L.I.: A prime-time address by Trump to reassure the nation is much needed. Tony Giametta Patchogue, L.I.: Just wondering when the people of this country are going to wake up to say enough is enough about the circus in Washington and demand that their Republican members of Congress stand with Democrats and represent their constituents, and not rubber stamp everything the felon in chief asks for. This man and his co-president Elon Musk are destroying our government from within and the Republicans are sitting there fat, dumb and happy, letting them get away with it. They have the power of the purse. It's time they remember that. If they're not going to do their jobs, maybe they should be fired and Congress should be eliminated. I wonder how much money that would save. Lynda Welsh Brooklyn: I hope some of the MAGA men and women who voted for Trump who lose their jobs and can't support their families think twice before voting for stupid Republicans like Trump, and stop believing them. And mothers who have children with disabilities when the Department of Education is closed down and some of their schools are closed — where are they going to send their children? Maybe then they will stop supporting the Republican Party. And why should we have the world's richest man telling the president what government jobs to cut? Let Musk go to Germany since he supports the right-wing party there. David Glassner Howard Beach: He has been in office 79 days. He has played golf 21 times. It costs $173,000 per hour to operate Air Force One. It has cost you and me $26 million to date for him to play golf. He will reach the total cost for his golf in the first term, $156 million, before the end of the year. Considering how little time he is actually in the White House doing what he said he was going to accomplish, it is amazing how much damage he has done to this country. Ed Sullivan Northport, L.I.: Aside from being the only state that ends in a 'k,' New York is different from the other 49 in its absurdly cumbersome process of acquiring land for public use. We're five years behind in protecting watersheds and forests and establishing parks and recreation areas. Instead of using title insurance like the rest of public and private real estate transactions do, New York requires a full title search that can take years to accomplish. This is a stick-in-the-mud approach when the public needs more trees, grass and clean water. Gov. Hochul and the state Legislature must reform this overly complex procedure so the state can get to the business of ensuring our environmental future. Douglas Schmid Manhattan: I got a letter from the MTA about switching from a MetroCard to OMNY. It took a long time to get through to a person at the phone number they gave me. The phone number is only for info — you can't give them your credit card number to start an account with OMNY. You have to do that on the internet, which many old or poor people do not have and don't want to put their credit card number on since a library computer is too public. Please send us a letter soon with a phone number to call to start an account. S.D. Rosenbaum Howard Beach: Am I correct to assume that Miriam Yarimi should be charged with three counts of murder in the deaths of the young mother and her children? Jean Novak Rochester, N.H.: Re 'French pol: Return the 'Lady' ' (March 18): The News needs to brush up on history, because France, dragged us into the War of 1812 — on the losing side, supported the South and invaded Mexico during the Civil War, needed us to save her at the proverbial last minute in 1918 and liberated her in 1944, was rebuilt by us after World War II with the Marshall Plan, left us a mess in Southeast Asia in 1954, and dropped out of NATO in 1966. All things considered, no blow against France would be low enough. And if you start ciphering, she owes us a heck of a lot more than we owe her. Bernardo J. Figueredo Brooklyn: I am the chaplain-rabbi at Haym Salomon Home for Nursing & Rehabilitation. Many of our residents and staff read the Daily News daily and are shocked at equating the Palestinians and Hamas with Israel. One must understand that if the Palestinians dislike Hamas, there should have been a revolution to topple that regime. One must understand that there is no balancing act when Hamas launched a genocide on Oct. 7, 2023 and continued with another genocide against hostages still ongoing. Chaim Baruch Wechsler Brooklyn: On Feb. 3, an op-ed written by Destiny Haggett ('The city that never sleeps soothes my heartache') was printed in the Daily News. I was so overwhelmed that I had to respond to her beautiful words. Ms. Haggett, as I sat having my morning coffee, tears quickly filled my eyes as I read your loving words for your adoring son Chansen. So eloquently written, I could feel the love you shared. Whatever time I have left here on Earth (I'm 98), please be assured that Chansen and your family will be in my prayers. I will treasure this article. It tells me that there are loving and caring people still in the world. Blessings to all, and praying for a better and peaceful country. A. Ferrara
Observer
08-04-2025
- General
- Observer
Experiencing happiness in diverse ways
Can we truly say that we are happy with our current circumstances? Why is it that, despite many aspects of our lives being positive, a single issue can still lead to unhappiness? Furthermore, what accounts for the differences in happiness levels among people from various countries? Happy individuals and families come in various forms, just as nations can experience happiness in diverse ways. Past experiences demonstrate that happy people actively engage in their communities and assist others, making them vital contributors to thriving societies and, consequently, shaping a nation's overall happiness. Significantly, life satisfaction and happiness are now central research areas in the social sciences. One notable effort in this regard is the World Happiness Report, which has become an indispensable resource for addressing the growing global interest in prioritising happiness. Researchers of the report indicate that, in addition to health and wealth, several factors that influence happiness may seem deceptively simple: sharing meals with others, having someone to rely on for social support, and the size of one's household. 'Happiness isn't just about wealth or growth; it encompasses trust, connection and the assurance that others support you. To foster stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters,' says Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, the primary source for the annual happiness rankings of countries worldwide. The World Happiness Report is a collaboration between Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the Editorial Board of the World Happiness Report. Each World Happiness Report typically highlights a specific theme and includes chapters authored by various experts who analyse different facets of global well-being and happiness associated with that theme. Several examples are provided. In Chapter 3 of the report, we find that dining alone is detrimental to one's well-being. The report states, 'People who frequently eat with others are significantly happier, and this effect remains even when considering household size.' The rising number of individuals who dine alone is a contributing factor to the declining well-being in the United States, which has dropped to 24th place in the report - its lowest ranking ever. In the United States, approximately 25 per cent people reported eating all their meals alone the previous day in 2023, marking a 53-per cent increase in solitary dining since 2003. Similarly, household size is closely associated with happiness. In Mexico and Europe, households consisting of four to five individuals report the highest levels of happiness; however, many people in Europe live alone. For most people around the world, family serves as a source of joy and support. The report highlights in Chapter 4 that living alone often experience lower levels of happiness. Conversely, those in very large households may also report decreased happiness, likely due to reduced economic satisfaction. 'Public policies should consider how economic decisions may have secondary effects on relationships, thereby impacting the well-being of families,' it suggests. At the same time, the report reveals that the antithesis of happiness is despair, which can lead to death by suicide or substance abuse. Fortunately, the incidence of such deaths is declining in the majority of countries, although this trend is not observed in the United States or the Republic of Korea. Nordic countries consistently rank among the top ten happiest nations, with Denmark, Iceland and Sweden following Finland, which maintains its unbroken streak as the world's happiest country. Their high happiness rankings are generally attributed to their extensive social welfare programmes, strong community connections and robust interactions with nature. In the Gulf region, the UAE has secured 21st place globally, while Kuwait ranks 30th worldwide and second in the Arab world. Saudi Arabia follows at 32nd globally and third in the Arab world. Oman holds the 52nd position globally and is fourth among Arab countries, while Bahrain is ranked 59th globally and fifth among Arab nations.
Associated Press
04-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Regions Bank Named 2025 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner
Regions Bank is proud to announce it has received the 2025 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (GEWA) for employee engagement. This award recognizes the most engaged workplace cultures in the world. This is the 11th year Regions has been recognized by Gallup. 'The engagement of our associates is foundational to our company's success,' said Dave Keenan, Regions Chief Administrative and Human Resources Officer. 'Engagement creates a workplace where current talent wants to stay, and new talent wants to join. This award is an honor, and it is motivation to continue our efforts around creating a workplace where our associates can grow and thrive throughout their careers at Regions.' Despite the momentous challenges in the rapidly evolving workplaces of the world, Gallup found that Regions has continued to engage and develop its associates in innovative ways, setting new benchmarks for workplace excellence. The engagement of our associates is foundational to our company's success. Dave Keenan, Regions Chief Administrative and Human Resources Officer 'Your commitment to creating an environment where employees feel valued, heard and empowered to do their best work is truly remarkable,' said Jon Clifton, Gallup's chief executive officer. 'By prioritizing both people and performance, you are shaping the future of work and proving that exceptional workplaces drive real results.' Gallup's meta-analysis on team engagement and performance is the most comprehensive workplace study ever conducted, with data on more than 3.3 million employees in 347 organizations across 53 industries and 90 countries. Highly engaged organizations significantly outperform their peers on important business outcomes, including customer ratings, profitability, productivity, turnover, safety incidents, shrinkage, absenteeism, quality, wellbeing and organizational citizenship. For a complete list of winners, visit the 2025 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winners page. Learn more about the awards here. About Regions Financial CorporationRegions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $157 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at About Gallup Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.
Nahar Net
02-04-2025
- General
- Nahar Net
Lebanon is the third unhappiest country in the world
by Naharnet Newsdesk 20 March 2025, 13:44 Finland is named the happiest country in the world for the eighth year in a row, according to the World Happiness Report 2025 published Thursday. Other Nordic countries are also once again at the top of the happiness rankings in the annual report published by the Wellbeing Research Center at the University of Oxford. Besides Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden remain the top four and in the same order. Country rankings were based on answers people give when asked to rate their own lives. The study was done in partnership with the analytics firm Gallup and the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network. "Happiness isn't just about wealth or growth — it's about trust, connection and knowing people have your back," said Jon Clifton, the CEO of Gallup. "If we want stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters: each other." - Sharing meals and having somebody to count on - Researchers say that beyond health and wealth, some factors that influence happiness sound deceptively simple: sharing meals with others, having somebody to count on for social support, and household size. In Mexico and Europe, for example, a household size of four to five people predicts the highest levels of happiness, the study said. Believing in the kindness of others is also much more closely tied to happiness than previously thought, according to the latest findings. As an example, the report suggests that people who believe that others are willing to return their lost wallet is a strong predictor of the overall happiness of a population. Nordic nations rank among the top places for expected and actual return of lost wallets, the study found. Overall, researchers said global evidence on the perceived and actual return of lost wallets shows that people are much too pessimistic about the kindness of their communities compared to reality — actual rates of wallet return are around twice as high as people expect. - The U.S. falls to its lowest-ever position in the happiness ranking - While European countries dominate the top 20 in the ranking, there were some exceptions. Despite the war with Hamas, Israel came in at 8th. Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 for the first time, ranking at 6th and 10th respectively. When it comes to decreasing happiness — or growing unhappiness —the United States has dropped to its lowest-ever position at 24, having previously peaked at 11th place in 2012. The report states that the number of people dining alone in the United States has increased 53% over the past two decades. The United Kingdom, at position 23, is reporting its lowest average life evaluation since the 2017 report. Afghanistan is again ranked as the unhappiest country in the world, with Afghan women saying their lives are especially difficult. Sierra Leone in western Africa is the second unhappiest, followed by Lebanon, ranking the 3rd from the bottom. - Almost one-fifth of young adults globally have no social support - In a concerning development, the study said 19% of young adults across the world reported in 2023 that they have no one they could count on for social support. That is a 39% increase compared to 2006. All countries are ranked according to their self-assessed life evaluations averaged over 2022 to 2024. Experts in economics, psychology, sociology and beyond then seek to explain the variations across countries and over time using factors such as GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, a sense of freedom, generosity and perceptions of corruption.
