REPORT RELEASE WEBINAR

The Hidden Performance Gap Widens: What 2026 Data Reveals About Employee Energy

January 29, 2026 | 1-2 PM ET

Last year’s report delivered an early warning: leaders were leaving 29% of human performance on the table. This year, that gap didn’t narrow—it widened. Despite record investment in engagement efforts, employee energy has fallen across nearly every indicator, signaling a shift that leaders can no longer afford to ignore.

Our 2026 What Juices You Report—a comparison of data from over 2000+ employee inputs across diverse teams—reveals a workplace climate where people are increasingly depleted. And the pattern is unmistakable.

When Driving Needs go unmet, energy collapses. And in 2025, nearly every Driving Need shifted further toward depletion.

In this live webinar, we will unveil the latest findings from the 2026 report and help you interpret what’s really happening beneath the surface of traditional engagement metrics. You’ll also see how leaders are using the What Juices You App to uncover real-time energy patterns and address the needs that most influence performance. 

See how this year’s data reframes the employee experience—and what actionable steps leaders can take now.

• Why traditional engagement strategies are failing, and what the data reveals that surveys cannot
• How declining Driving Needs create energy drag, and how leaders can spot early warning signs using real-time data
• Why “Valued and Respected” has become the non-negotiable Need, and how leaders can address it skillfully
• How Belonging and Security can anchor depleted teams, especially in high-change environments
  Where your purpose-driven employees are most at risk—and how to protect their energy
• How teams using the What Juices You App are strengthening connection, performance, and trust through ongoing energy intelligence.

You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of what is actually fueling—or draining—your workforce, and how to build a performance environment where people can meet their needs, restore their energy, and bring their best to work. 

MEET YOUR SPEAKERS

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Energy has sagged—significantly.
  Average employee energy has fallen to 64%, a 7% drop from last year’s published report. Why is energy falling even as organizations double down on engagement programs? What has changed—and what are leaders missing?
• Employees care deeply, but they’re getting drained.
  Nearly every Driving Need moved further into depletion this year. This is not a motivation problem; it’s a systemic need-meeting problem. When all our driving needs collectively move towards depletion, performance problems will emerge org-wide.
• “Valued and Respected” is now the defining workplace need.
  Nearly half of all employees (47%) selected it as their top Need. Nothing else comes close. Recognition isn’t a perk—it is now the strongest predictor of energy, and it’s increasingly at risk across teams
• Our Belonging and Security needs are becoming more prominent.
  As teams feel the pressure, they are looking for stability, as well as solidifying their relationships. Trusted Relationships and Quality Connections have climbed into the top five, signalling that employees are reaching for stability, safety, and real connection.
• While the hierarchy of driving needs remains steady— the emotional climate is not.
  Significance → Belonging → Meaning → Freedom → Security remains the order. But the underlying tone has shifted: Meaning and Freedom became a bit less prominent, while Belonging and Security are seeing increased scrutiny.

This is the new story of the modern workplace. People want to do great work and adapt to change, but they also need to feel safe and connected while navigating through challenges.

• People leaders at all levels
• HR professionals and organizational development specialists
• Leaders accountable for driving engagement, retention, performance, or culture
• Teams seeking practical, data-backed approaches to improving energy and connection

WHY ATTEND NOW:

Energy is declining. Depletion is rising. Recognition has become the dealbreaker. The organizations that act now will gain a decisive advantage in engagement, retention, and sustainable performance.

Join us and be among the first to access the 2026 report—and to understand what your people need most in the year ahead.

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