Ability to work independently: Crucial

This is where employee engagement really goes to die.

I've seen studies (and books) about how important the idea of being able to work independently is. Mostly I'd buy that for a $1 or more. Consider: the opposite of a chance to work independently would be micromanagement, and most people hate that. You see stuff like working remotely and/or flexible work arrangements rising in popularity. The standard nar…