Delving into disengagement as a distinct construct: A proposed research agenda for public relations scholars

Abstract

Public relations scholars have greatly impacted the understanding of employee engagement in terms of definitions, theory development, antecedents, outcomes, and progressing scholarship to explore changes in the modern workplace. Yet, understanding the nuances around being disengaged is absent from most of the public relations literature. In addition, although much is known about the connection between employee engagement and internal communication, little has been identified about how internal communication contributes to or ameliorates the experience of being disengaged. Therefore, public relations researchers have the chance to move scholarship on disengagement forward by examining it as a unique concept separate from engagement and exploring the function of internal communication with disengagement.