- Sponsor
- HRDQ-U
- Speaker
- Devin C. Hughes
- Registration
- Click here to register.
- Contact
- Joseph Meeker
- jlmeeke2@uillinois.edu
- Phone
- 217-300-6568
- Let’s be honest, if free snacks, pulse surveys, and another “fun” team-building activity were going to fix workplace culture… they would have by now.
Instead, we’re facing a different reality. According to Gallup, 1 in 5 employees globally report feeling lonely at work, engagement has dropped to near-decade lows, and most employees are either not engaged or actively disengaged.
Welcome to the workplace culture crisis: disconnected, burned out, and quietly checked out.
In this candid and refreshingly no-fluff session, Devin C. Hughes breaks down what’s really driving disconnection and why most “engagement initiatives” are just expensive wallpaper. With a mix of research, real talk, and just enough humor to keep it human, he’ll show leaders how to rebuild trust, connection, and cultures that actually work.
People don’t leave companies; they mentally check out first.
Walk away with practical strategies to reduce burnout, tackle disengagement, and create a workplace where people feel like they matter (and don’t just show up for the fast Wi-Fi). You will learn how to:
- Understand the real drivers behind burnout, disengagement, and workplace loneliness
- Recognize early signs that employees are “checked out” (before it shows up in performance)
- Learn practical ways to rebuild trust, connection, and psychological safety
- Replace low-impact engagement tactics with strategies that actually work
- Strengthen communication and team dynamics in hybrid and high-pressure environments
- Build a culture where belonging fuels performance, not just posters on the wall