Do you remember the iconic refrain shouted by TV anchorman Howard Beale in the 1976 film Network? "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" Well, employees today aren't quite that angry, but they are increasingly unhappy at work. In fact, employees are more dissatisfied now than at any time since companies began tracking employee engagement in the 1990s. Need proof?

• Just considering how they feel about their benefits, employee satisfaction fell to 61% in 2023 from 64% the previous year, hitting the lowest point in the past decade, according to MetLife's Employee Benefits Trends Study 2023.
• Gallup's 2023 State of the Global Workplace Report says 85% of employees are unengaged at work.
• Over 33% of U.S. workers were projected to leave their jobs in 2023, and nearly 75% said they would contemplate quitting if a suitable opportunity came up (even if they weren't actively seeking a new job).
• An eye-popping 71% of Generation Z employees (born between 1997 and 2012) said they'd take a pay cut for a more meaningful job than what they're currently doing.

So what? Why does employee satisfaction matter and, equally important, why should a benefits broker care?

Employee satisfaction matters because satisfied employees are more productive in the workplace. While there is nothing in state or federal law that requires a certain level of job satisfaction in the workplace, it nevertheless plays an important role. Satisfied employees are 12% more productive and increase a company's profits. This is because job satisfaction positively impacts employee performance, dedication, energy, and mental health.