The pandemic-initiated transformative change continues to moulds our work landscape, as its effects and consequences constantly develop. With remote and hybrid models gaining ground across diverse industries, the capacity of workers to embrace these shifts has also exhibited variability.

The latest Gallup's annual Global Workplace Study, published this month, revealed that a mere 23% of the global workforce expressed a sense of thriving in their current roles, while in the United States, this figure rises to 34%. 

However, the study also unveiled a concerning level of employees who feel disconnected from their job responsibilities. 59% of employees have quiet quit, while 18% loud quit. 

On the other hand, these statistics are echoed by 47% of workers in the United States who either intend to depart from their current roles in the near future or are actively engaged in job hunting.

As per the survey's findings, low engagement can have significant financial repercussions, leading to a substantial toll on the global economy. The report highlights that this impact amounts to a staggering $8.8 trillion, which is equivalent to approximately 9% of the global GDP.

Among both fully remote and onsite workers, the percentage of actively engaged employees was 52%. However, in terms of disengagement, the figures were 46% for remote workers compared to 38% for those working onsite.

Though the extent of engagement might appear modest, it actually represents the highest global engagement level observed since the inception of Gallup's study in 2009. These numbers also signifies a notable enhancement compared to previous years, signifying a recovery in engagement levels following a decline in 2020.

"People are a little bit more prone to drift to other employment, feeling less attached to the workplace," said Howard Liu, chair of the psychiatry department at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, told The Wall Street Journal.

However, there remain proponents of remote work who thoroughly enjoy this lifestyle. According to a 2022 survey conducted by Cisco, which involved 28,000 full-time employees across the globe, a significant 78.9% of remote and hybrid workers reported that this shift had enhanced their work-life balance.

Furthermore, remote work can translate into financial benefits for many. A research in 2021 involving nearly 2,700 Americans, conducted by Bankrate, revealed that 38% of remote workers believed it had a positive influence on their financial situation. Notably, this percentage increased significantly to 60% for millennials.