Workers’ decisions to join, stay, or leave their organizations are shaped by a broad ecosystem of push and pull factors. The Global Employee Monitor is a quarterly pulse survey of workers in 26 countries that examines how key elements of the employee value proposition — such as pay, growth opportunities, work design, and workplace relationships — influence job decisions and how satisfaction with these factors translates into engagement, retention, and other outcomes.
The study also provides important context on workers’ broader experiences, including their personal well-being, relationships, adaptability to change, and financial health. It captures perspectives on economic conditions, job opportunities, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of work. The findings offer a global view of what is driving employee sentiment today and where the workforce may be headed next.
For the inaugural wave of data collection, which captured the first quarter of 2026, SHRM surveyed 5,042 workers via a third-party online panel between Feb. 11 and March 16, 2026. Participants were at least 18 years old and employed either full time or part time at organizations with at least two employees. Workers across a wide range of industries were included, and responses were balanced to ensure representation by age and gender. The survey was translated into each country’s official language, with localized English used where applicable.
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