GiftCard Partners Blog

Employee engagement in the U.S. has stalled at 31%, down from its pandemic-era peak and representing millions fewer engaged workers across the workforce. New findings from Gallup reveal a deeper issue behind the headline numbers: engagement isn’t eroding because employees don’t care; it’s declining because basic workplace needs are going unmet, especially for younger workers.

The side hustle is no longer a fringe activity; it’s a defining part of the modern workforce. According to SurveyMonkey’s Workplace Culture and Trends report, nearly three in four employees (72%) either have a side hustle or are considering one. While side hustles can spark creativity and growth, they also present challenges for employers — from retention risks to engagement gaps.

Raises matter. In fact, fair compensation is a baseline expectation for today’s workforce. But if you're relying solely on salary increases to drive satisfaction and retention, you're missing the mark and possibly missing opportunities to strengthen employee engagement in more meaningful ways.

Virtual work-force Promotes Company Growth, Family Values and a Healthier Environment

WELLESLEY, Mass.,
Aug. 16, 2011
/PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Today
GiftCard Partners' (GCP)
Ed Shulkin and Deb Merkin announced 10 years of vision coming to fruition as their virtual workforce now stretches across all regions of the country.
Massachusetts,
New York,
California,
Florida, and
Oregon are just a few of the company's remote workplace "home" offices. Read the rest of the PR Newswire release here:

GiftCard Partners Expands from Coast to Coast with Entirely Remote Workforce.

The workplace looks a lot different than it did just a few years ago. Employees are ambitious, financially stressed, and navigating new expectations around balance, technology, and growth. According to SurveyMonkey’s 2025 Workplace Culture and Trends report, the gaps between what employees want and what employers deliver are widening — but so are the opportunities to bridge them.