New polls suggest that workers are more engaged when employers stress the importance and context of their work. According to Gallup's "State of the American Workplace" survery, less than half of employees see a connection between their personal goals and the goals of their place of employment. This has resulted in only one third of workers feeling engaged in their jobs. Adam Zuckerman, an employee engagement practice leader, suggests that employers can provide worker's jobs with meaning through career development opportunities or by building corporate engagement in the community.
See "If Work Lacks Meaning, It's Just Shoveling Elephant Dung", Martin Berman-Gorvine, Bloomberg BNA, February 16, 2017