Meet
Generation Numb.
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The rise of Generation Numb.
The signals are everywhere. The pandemic accelerated trends already in action. Worn down by chronic uncertainty, fractured by digital saturation, and no longer moved by lofty company visions, we’re seeing changes in how people show up, what they expect, and how much of themselves they’re willing to give.
of employees are willing to support change - down from 74% in 2016.
of organisations report a 'low trust culture.'
record low in employee connection to company mission.
What is
Generation Numb?
Generation Numb represents a collective response to prolonged uncertainty and digital overload.
The numbers behind
Generation Numb.
When we surveyed employees across enterprise organisations, the data confirmed what leaders already sense: the workforce has fundamentally changed.
50% of employees say they feel numb, indifferent, or ‘nothing’ at all, when companies announce change. 63% report feeling disconnected from colleagues. And when asked to describe work in one word, responses like "autopilot," "meh," and "I'm here to get paid" dominated.
So...
what's really going on?
It's time to redefine a generation.
We're witnessing the emergence of a workforce shaped not by birth year, but by what they've collectively endured: sustained uncertainty, digital saturation, and relentless change.
Enter Generation Numb: a workforce spanning multiple age cohorts that's emotionally fatigued, craving connection, and in search of meaning at work.
Now's the time for
radical listening.
The good news? Leaders who take this seriously will be giving their people something they crave.
We've distilled these signals into a clear framework based on a Me - Us - It model, providing leaders with a people enablement strategy shaped for the post-pandemic workforce.
This approach is designed to build trust, reignite collective belief, and help individuals reconnect with each other and their work.
There is everything
to play for.
The leaders who address Generation Numb will define the future of work. In September, we're sharing the new approaches to people enablement needed to get there.
About Sponge.
Sponge is a people enablement partner to 43% of the Interbrand Global 100, one in 10 of the Nasdaq, and a third of Europe’s Fortune 500.
Supporting leaders tasked with high-stakes transformation, we’ve spent over 20 years delivering targeted shifts in behaviour, culture, and capability through unforgettable learning. Our approach combines strategic learning consultancy, grounded in the science of what moves people, with world-class creative—delivered end-to-end across digital, blended, and in-person experiences.
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