The 2026 State of the Digital Workplace report ties that gap to engagement, burnout and retention, and finds that complexity makes it wider

NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Companies continue to invest in digital workplace technology, but the experience employees actually have is not keeping up. New research from Unily, the leading AI-native employee experience platform, and Gallup finds that just 20% of U.S. employees have both strong Digital Enablement and strong Digital Culture, the elements that define a good Digital Workplace Experience (DWX). The gap matters to companies’ bottom line as employees with good DWX are 3.1 times as likely to be engaged at work, 5.5 times as likely to strongly recommend their employer, and report far less burnout.

The report defines DWX based on two pillars: Digital Enablement – whether employees can find, use, and rely on the tools and information their jobs require – and Digital Culture – whether those same systems help people feel connected, informed, and able to grow. Companies have largely built the pipework but not the experience. Roughly half (49%) of employees have good Digital Enablement, but only 34% have good Digital Culture, and 36% have neither.

DWX Is a Workforce Performance Issue, Not IT

The findings underscore that an effective digital workplace must do more than streamline workflows and connect systems; it must also foster a sense of connection, support and belonging that helps employees feel engaged in the organization. Employees with good DWX report 46% engagement, compared with 15% with poor DWX. They are also far less likely to feel burned out (11% versus 38%) and have a greater willingness to recommend their employer (44% versus 8%).

Having a workplace that delivers strong culture is the missing piece in delivering positive employee outcomes. Employees with good Digital Culture but weak Digital Enablement are more than twice as likely to be engaged as those with the reverse (38% versus 17%) and less likely to report frequent burnout (21% versus 29%). In order for workplaces to be successful and effective, they have to do more than just remove friction within their workflows.

Companies Digitized Work But They Didn’t Make It Easier

Fragmented information compounds this problem with excessive tool-switching and a disconnect between information accessibility and accuracy. Among employees who say workplace information lives in a single location, 33% frequently switch between tools to finish their work. This climbs to 62% when information is spread across a few locations and 78% when it is spread across many.

As organizations increase their headcount and have a wider geographical distribution, a complexity trap emerges; issues with friction, information trust, and communication overload worsen. For instance, good DWX falls from 22% of employees at organizations with fewer than 500 people to 15% at those with 10,000 or more.

“Organizations have invested heavily in digitizing work, but this research shows that access to more technology has not necessarily created a better experience of work,” said Lokdeep Singh, CEO of Unily.

“A high-performing digital workplace must do more than give employees tools. Employees need trusted information, fewer barriers to getting work done, and an environment that keeps people informed, engaged, and connected to a strong organizational culture. That becomes increasingly important as organizations scale and introduce AI. If the underlying information is fragmented or untrusted, AI will magnify those weaknesses. The organizations that address these foundations will be best positioned to turn AI investment into meaningful business value.”

AI Readiness Depends on the Environment Employees Work In

The data bears this out. Among AI users, 47% of those with good DWX trust the information it provides somewhat or a great deal, compared with 26% of those with poor DWX. Everyone asks whether their people are ready for AI, but the better question is whether the workplace around them is ready.

On the other hand, organizations aren’t preparing people for this transformation. 72% of employees reported that they haven’t participated in employer-provided AI training or learning activities in the previous six months. Employees’ existing experiences with digital information, workplace systems, and organizational support provide important context for how they will approach AI.

The next phase of workplace investment isn’t about adding more technology. It’s about making the digital workplace work better for the people who use it.

Research Methodology

The findings are based on a web survey of 2,305 U.S. workers aged 18 and older, conducted July 6–10, 2026, and drawn from the Gallup Panel. The maximum margin of sampling error is ±2.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level; margins are higher for subgroups. The survey is cross-sectional, so the results describe associations and cannot establish that DWX causes better employee outcomes. The full report is available at HERE.

About Unily

Unily is the leading AI-native employee experience platform that delivers an employee app, employee intranet, and internal communications solutions for global enterprises with 1,000 to 1 million employees. Unily provides a unified digital workplace experience that connects people, content, and tools across desk-based and frontline teams. Unily’s award-winning employee app and employee intranet reduce friction to improve productivity and engagement at scale. Industry leaders like Shell, CVS Health, and American Airlines use Unily to accelerate transformation, streamline internal communications, and strengthen collaboration across the organization. Recognized as a Leader by Gartner, Forrester, and IDC, Unily is shaping the future of work for millions of employees worldwide.

About Gallup

Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.

Media Contact

Unily@5wpr.com

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/only-one-in-five-us-employees-has-a-good-digital-workplace-experience-new-unily-and-gallup-research-finds-302936487.html

SOURCE Unily