New York, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEW IPR STUDY WITH THE GROSSMAN GROUP FINDS RISING BURNOUT AMONG HIGHLY ENGAGED COMMUNICATORS
NEW YORK — A new study from the Institute for Public Relations (IPR), in partnership with The Grossman Group, finds that communicators remain highly engaged in their work despite rising burnout. Building on the IPR and The Grossman Group 2025 benchmark study, the 2026 research also identifies emotional connection with colleagues as the strongest driver of engagement and suggests retention risks are growing as more professionals consider leaving their organizations.
The 2026 Employee Engagement in Communication Report examines employee engagement, burnout, workplace culture, leadership, career advancement, resource allocation, workplace flexibility, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in the communications profession. Results are based on a survey of 419 communications professionals conducted via Prolific between October 2025 and January 2026.
"Findings show that engagement is driven not only by organizational resources but, more importantly, by meaningful relationships with colleagues and leaders," said Olivia Fajardo, Director of Research at the Institute for Public Relations. "This work provides research-backed recommendations for leaders who want to foster successful relationships with employees and drive positive business outcomes.”
Some key findings include:
- High levels of engagement exist as burnout increases by 37%: 88% are engaged overall, while 81% said they experience burnout at least “sometimes,” a 22 percentage-point jump from the 2025 report. This suggests communicators are highly committed but increasingly overextended.
- Connection matters more than compensation: Engagement appears more relational than structural. Feeling emotionally distant from coworkers had a larger negative impact on engagement than burnout, salary, or job security.
- Retention risks continue to grow: Retention risks increased as 40% were “likely to look for a job at another organization in the next 12 months,” up from 31% in 2025.
- Artificial intelligence raises concerns: More than three-quarters (77%) said AI may make communicators “lazier.” Half said AI may cause the profession to lose core competencies, and 44% said AI may cause the profession to lose its identity.
- Leadership support is inconsistent and can undermine engagement: While 51% of communicators reported satisfaction with leadership accessibility and support, more than one-quarter expressed dissatisfaction, with open-ended responses highlighting strained relationships between leaders and their direct reports.
"One of the most important findings is that engagement is fundamentally relational," said David Grossman, Founder and CEO of The Grossman Group and IPR Trustee. "People remain deeply committed to their work, but when they become disconnected from their colleagues or unsupported by leaders, engagement begins to erode. Organizations that prioritize meaningful communication, transparency, and genuine human connection will be better equipped to navigate ongoing workplace change."
The full report is available at HERE.
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About the Institute for Public Relations
The Institute for Public Relations is an independent, nonprofit research foundation dedicated to fostering greater use of research and research-based knowledge in corporate communication and the public relations practice. IPR is dedicated to the science beneath the art of public relations.® IPR provides timely insights and applied intelligence that professionals can put to immediate use. All research, including a weekly research letter, is available for free at instituteforpr.org.
About The Grossman Group
The Grossman Group is an award-winning communications consultancy that helps leaders and organizations drive transformation through strategic communication. For more than 25 years, the firm has partnered with Fortune 500 companies and leading organizations to strengthen leadership, culture, change management, and the employee
experience.
Media Contact
Brittany Higginbotham
Communications & Outreach Manager
Institute for Public Relations
brittany@instituteforpr.org
(352) 392-0280
Media Contact Brittany Higginbotham Communications & Outreach Manager Institute for Public Relations brittany@instituteforpr.org (352) 392-0280
