A recent survey found that “engagement levels” — consultant-speak for employee loyalty and motivation — have dropped 9% across all classes of workers. But there’s more: That loyalty and motivation level has dropped almost 25% for top performers over the past year.

The stars are unhappy

Indeed, top performers appear to be the least-happy campers. Nearly 20% fewer of the best and brightest would recommend others take jobs with their employers. Twenty-six percent are less satisfied with advancement opportunities than they were last year, and they’re 14% less likely to stick with their current employer once the economic picture brightens.

Two more disturbing stats from the top-performers: 29% say they’re less confident this year that management will be able to grow the business. And 41% think pay and benefit changes instituted over the past 12 months have hurt work quality and customer service.

Overall, not a pretty picture. What can employers do? There’s probably no secret formula. Open communication, performance-based incentives and low-cost perks — flexible schedules, for instance — can certainly help.

And it also pays to remember that employees are a notoriously fickle lot. As the economy improves and everybody gets a few more bucks in their pockets, attitudes will likely improve.

For a look at the Executive Summary of the Watson Wyatt survey, go here.

If Congress and President Obama are looking to  employers for support for the latest healthcare bill, the best advice may be, “Look elsewhere.”

A recent survey of 160 employers revealed that most of the bosses believe healthcare reform will lead to higher healthcare costs and a weakening of control over how employers provide coverage to workers.

Here are the numbers from the survey, conducted by business consultant Watson Wyatt:

• 73% believe healthcare costs will increase if current reform legislation is enacted.
• 86% think the legislation would weaken the role and control of employer-sponsored plans.
• Only 29% would support a tax on high-income employees with high-cost plans as a way to fund health reform.
• Only 19% would support a tax on insurers of high-cost plans.
• Only 11% would support taxing employer contributions to health care as income.
• Only 10% would support a mandate for employers to provide coverage.
• 50% would support a mandate for workers to carry coverage.