I’ve worked for many different companies over the years, and I’ve experienced a wide range of workplace cultures and traditions. I feel grateful for many of the teams I’ve been part of, but I’ve also noticed how much companies struggle with one particular thing: employee engagement. Some companies do nothing at all. Some companies do a lot—sometimes almost too much. And a few, in my opinion, strike the right balance of engagement, culture, and benefits. But here’s what I believe is more important than any of that. Most people today don’t celebrate unless their company prompts them to. Think about how often managers take teams out to lunch—but only if it’s company-paid. My husband once had a manager who regularly treated his team to lunch out of his own pocket. That small difference made it feel genuine, personal, and intentional—not transactional. When everything is paid for, planned, and expected, it creates a lack of emotional investment. People often don’t care more when they’re inc...