by Bryan Hyland, Commercial Director at Morgan McKinley
Companies put enormous effort into attracting “the best and the brightest”. However, after the thrill of this chase, what is your retention and employee engagement strategy? Will talent simply move on to the next company that woos them with bigger and better pay packets, benefits, and responsibilities?
Should this have employers quaking in their boots? Yes—if you’re not doing anything about it. Here are three interesting facts you should know if you’re not entirely convinced of the importance of engagement:
- According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report, employees who are not engaged or actively disengaged cost the world a staggering $8.8 trillion in lost productivity. This staggering figure equates to 9% of global GDP, highlighting the critical importance of employee engagement.
- Gartner HR Research found that only 31% of employees report feeling engaged, enthusiastic, and energised by their work.
- A recent Harvard Business Review Analytic Services study, conducted in association with Quantum Workplace, found that 81% of business leaders strongly agree that highly engaged employees perform better and are more productive.
In order to be successful, it’s important that you get the best out of every employee and retain them. How can you do this? By committing to effective strategies, wherever your teams are based.
Why make sure employees feel as valued as customers?
Employee turnover has a cost. If talent leaves the company, they may go to competitors and take clients with them.
You will have to cover the period when you’re between employees-advertising the role, screening applicants, interviewing, training and on-boarding. Many organisations will consider hiring agile and flexible contractors in this instance, but it would be better if you could retain as many employees as possible in the first place.
What if they stay? Disengaged employees cost even more.
Presenteeism, when staff are ‘at work’ but aren’t productive, is just as big a problem as turnover. Employees are doing a job with little effectiveness because they’re not trained appropriately or don’t have the resources they need. They don’t enjoy it any longer and are doing the minimum to get by—or worse, they’re actively seeking out new employment on the job, and you are paying them to do so.
Your retention strategy shouldn’t just try to hold on to good people, but ensure they bring their talents to the role.
How can you improve employee engagement of remote workers?
We’ve outlined why it should be near the top of your priority list. But how can you ensure all your team members are fully engaged, happy, and productive when you aren’t in the same room as them every day? In short, it boils down to three key elements: communication, participation, and appreciation.
Communicateregularly with remote employees. Use chat programs to stay in touch, or schedule regular video meetings to ensure everyone is aligned on tasks. These virtual face-to-face meetings are also beneficial as they allow remote workers to see their colleagues, albeit through a screen, which helps them feel like a part of the team.
Participation ensures that remote workers do not feel isolated. Encourage cross-team interactions, arrange virtual ‘office’ drinks and try to facilitate an online shared environment where remote employees can participate in extracurricular activities. Virtual team-building activities, such as online games or trivia nights, can help to strengthen relationships and create a fun and engaging work environment. Open communication channels, like Slack or Teams, enable employees to connect, share ideas, and collaborate effectively easily. If you can foster social connections between your employees, you should notice increased engagement during the workweek!
Appreciation is where a lot of companies fall down when it comes to remote workers, yet it’s the most direct way to show you care about them – which is a huge contributor to engagement. Providing clear guidelines and expectations for remote work is essential for ensuring that employees feel empowered and supported. Flexible schedules can help employees manage their work-life balance and increase job satisfaction. Could you send personalised gifts on work anniversaries or their birthday? Do you give them a budget to improve their home working setup?
These three prominent pillars of remote engagement strengthen the bond between an employer and its remote workforce. Communication, participation and appreciation all contribute towards employees feeling valued.
Seven ways to boost employee engagement, productivity, and employee retention.
1. Start by being genuinely interested in who they are, beyond what they can do for you.
Customers are not just wallets, and employees are not just “assets“. They are human beings who want to be valued and regularly communicated with. For those in your workforce who work remotely, arrange regular video meetings to check in with them. To create a positive work environment, it’s essential to prioritise employee well-being and engagement. Offer comprehensive mental health support to address the emotional needs of your employees, fostering a culture where open conversations about mental health are encouraged. Invest in wellness programs promoting physical and mental health, such as on-site gym facilities, mindfulness sessions, or healthy eating initiatives.
2. Offer a great product experience: give employees the means to work well.
You ensure that your product or service solves a pressing problem for your customers and delivers on its promise. It should also be easy and intuitive to use. You also ensure that customer reps, salespeople, and store clerks welcome customers like the important people they are—make the same effort for your employees.
The great product experience you offer is the company itself: great company culture, a great place to work, and the feeling that one can do good work without frustrating obstacles.
A key element of engagement is doing what you love in a meaningful context. If people spend time learning about a subject they enjoy and can apply that knowledge in the workplace, it can dramatically boost engagement and retention.
Actively devise a professional development plan with your employees and support them on their educational journey. From online e-learning modules to investing in a professional qualification, education is not just for employees who are new in their role. Consider offering tuition reimbursement or other financial assistance to encourage employees to pursue further education.
3. React to issues quickly
Employees won’t savage the company on social media in the way an irate customer might (although forums like Glassdoor.com give them a platform to do so now!) but reacting to issues quickly shows people they are valued.
Listen to them and try to solve their problems, just as you would with customer complaints. People want to do excellent work that has meaning; they want to move the needle and get results for their company; giving them what they need is a huge win-win.
4. Demonstrate that you appreciate their work in a meaningful way
Do you offer perks and gifts to customers? Could you do the same for team members?
Small gifts, celebrating results and milestones, even small ones, help cement good feelings. Acknowledge personal events (e.g., a birthday, a wedding, etc.) as well as team events (e.g., a big sale, a new client, or a completed project).
Company-wide initiatives like providing healthy food options and offering virtual exercise classes have been proven to boost wellness, morale, and productivity for two reasons: employees are in better health and less stressed, and they are grateful because they feel valued.
5. Technology for Enhanced Engagement
AI-powered tools like chatbots can streamline HR inquiries, providing instant responses and reducing administrative burdens. Personalised learning platforms empower employees to take control of their professional development, offering tailored training and development opportunities that align with their individual needs and preferences. Investing in robust collaboration tools enables seamless communication, teamwork, and knowledge sharing, fostering a connected and productive work environment.
6. Reward positive ambassadors
Who among your co-workers makes your company a great place to be? Who is kind? Who is a lot of fun? Who is the problem solver who will run to the rescue? Who inspires colleagues to higher standards? Who has a positive influence on the place?
Find out who these people are, look for the ‘positive deviant’, and give them a position or engineer their existing position so that their positive influence can be felt far and wide.
7. Find meaning in the bigger picture
Just like customers are increasingly concerned about companies’ impact on the human and natural environment, employees want to make a positive difference in the world. It is crucial to highlight how their contribution is making the company, the local community, and the world better.
Is there a budget you can give to each employee to donate to a charity of their choosing? Can the company donate a certain number of days of that person’s time to volunteer? Alternatively, could your staff offer the sick leave that they may not use to another staff member who is going through a time of hardship?
Finally, as you take these steps within your company, ensure that the world knows about it by applying for the “Great Place to Work” awards and the Investors in People Quality Standard so that you are recognised internally and externally for your efforts.
