CEOs love empathy, but not at work.
Our 11th annual State of Workplace Empathy study is full of paradoxical data. Most notably that CXOs (such as CEOs, CFOs, CHROs, and CTOs) who say their culture is toxic are 2X more likely to also report significant financial growth for their organizations.
Yikes.
If that wasn’t enough to raise some eyebrows, those same CXOs also rate themselves and their companies higher in empathy compared to their peers in non-toxic companies.
We’ve been reporting on this paradox for a while. What gives?
We asked Jon Shanahan, Businessolver’s CEO, for his thoughts on this:
“In eleven years of studying empathy, we’ve never seen results like these. The numbers don’t add up. But then again, given the level of volatility and polarization we’re living in today, maybe the paradoxical findings in this year’s report are exactly the right reflection of a world in flux.”
Keep reading: Jon says more in his opening letter in the State of Workplace Empathy report.
We’d like to say no, but the empathy gap between the c-suite and employees has persisted for a while.
But it’s not without consequences.
We’re just barely scratching the surface, though.
Last year, we calculated an estimated $180B at risk in attrition alone if workplace culture and C-suite perspectives don’t change.
Are CXOs finally starting to see what’s on the horizon? Signs point to “yes.”
We’re not the only ones forecasting the risk that lies ahead:
