Small-business owners are entering 2026 with cautious optimism—but employee engagement is dropping, hiring is still hard, and “do more with less” has become the new normal. In this episode of eLegal Radio, Dr. Shena Dixon Mason, Esq., Ph.D. in Organization Management and Leadership, ABD, explains how disengaged employees quietly destroy profit and why post‑pandemic small businesses are uniquely vulnerable. You’ll learn how disengagement shows up in day‑to‑day behaviors, how it connects to legal risk when you finally act, and the simple documentation habits that can protect you if a termination ever gets challenged. By the end, you’ll have a practical checklist to spot disengagement early, take lawful action, and start rebuilding a productive, sustainable team in a 2026 economy that gives small businesses very little room for error. Join our community at www.audiobookschool.com.