AGENCY AND EMPATHY AS CATALYSTS OF ENGAGEMENT

Abstract

This literature review explores the interplay between employee agency and empathy as interdependent drivers of engagement in modern hybrid workplaces. Agency, defined by autonomy, voice, and impact, enables intentional action and self-reflection, while empathy fosters relational attunement to others’ perspectives and emotions. Together, they function as mutually reinforcing capacities that align ethical awareness with effective behavior. Self-Determination Theory provides a foundation for understanding autonomy, competence, and relatedness, but requires refinement to account for decentralized, technology-mediated work. Building on emerging scholarship and the Lartey Empathy Measurement Scale (LEMS), we argue that psychological engagement cannot be fully understood without measuring agency alongside empathy. Although validated measures of empathy exist, no equivalent instrument currently captures agency at scale. This review establishes the theoretical basis for such a tool, outlines a pathway toward psychometric development, and integrates recent evidence demonstrating that empathy can shape an individual’s sense of agency. By situating agency and empathy together, this review advances workplace engagement research and underscores their joint role in supporting ethical and effective practice.