Beyond Pay—Are Your Employees Feeling Truly Valued?

According to aggregated employee engagement survey data collected by MRA and other employer associations, only 49% of respondents believe their organization’s pay is competitive. Yet the 2026 HR and Business Trends data show a clear story: employees can feel valued even when pay has limits—as long as the work experience is supportive, efficient, and respectful of their time.

Many organizations are already leaning into this reality. In MRA’s 2026 HR Trends Survey, 57% of HR leaders identified improving engagement and satisfaction as a top strategic priority, and 28% are expanding initiatives to support employee wellbeing. Likewise, the 2026 National Business Trends Survey shows that employee engagement remains a serious long-term challenge, with up to 40% of executives rating it as a significant concern depending on region.

At the same time, workload pressure is rising. According to the 2026 National Business Trends Survey, across industries and regions, leaders report:

• Training and upskilling are among the most common retention strategies (up to 61%).
• Filling roles with existing staff who lack needed skills but “have potential” is becoming more common (40–45%).
• Investment in new technology and process improvements is a top planned action for 2026 (up to 50%).

These trends reflect a shared challenge: Employees are being asked to do more, learn more, and adapt more—often without additional staffing to match.

That’s why how work gets done matters so much. When expectations are clear, processes are efficient, technology works, and workloads are reasonable, employees experience a stronger sense of value. Nationally, in the survey, employees consistently rank the following among their top needs: flexibility, clear resources to do their job effectively, recognition, and opportunities to grow.

For organizations, these trends increase the urgency of understanding what truly gets in the way of productive, meaningful work. Challenges such as overload, unclear expectations, inefficient workflows, misaligned responsibilities, and underutilization don’t just impact output—they directly influence whether employees feel respected and supported in their day-to-day experience.

When leaders have clear insight into where work is getting stuck, they’re better equipped to take targeted action. And employees notice. They feel valued when:

• Workloads are manageable, not constantly stretched.
• Processes make sense, rather than adding friction.
• Technology supports their efforts, instead of slowing them down.
• Priorities are clear, so they can truly succeed in their role.

In a tight talent market, these factors matter as much as traditional rewards. Employees may understand that pay can’t rise indefinitely, but they expect an environment where their time and effort are used wisely.

That’s why more organizations are taking a closer look at how work happens—not just how much of it there is. Assessing workload, capacity, and process barriers provides leaders with a grounded understanding of what employees face each day. The insights offer a practical roadmap: where to streamline, where to invest, and where small adjustments can make a big difference.

A structured Workload & Productivity assessment helps organizations pinpoint these issues with clarity. From identifying bottlenecks to surfacing areas of underutilized talent, the data supports smarter decision-making and more meaningful conversations with teams.

In a year when many organizations can’t rely on pay alone, improving the work experience is one of the most immediate and lasting ways to help employees feel truly valued. By focusing on how work gets done, leaders strengthen both productivity and engagement in ways that support people and performance.

Let’s keep building healthier, more productive teams.

Want deeper insight into how work truly happens inside your organization? MRA’s Workload & Productivity Surveys give leaders a clear, evidence‑based view of capacity, process barriers, and organizational friction points. The results translate directly into practical improvements that strengthen both productivity and employee experience.