What is employee engagement? Is employee engagement the responsibility of employees to their company? Is this the employee engagement definition or is this the business engagement definition? Why is employee engagement important? Getting real commitment from employees to the company. Is that what it’s about?
Discover the 11 reasons why the commitment of companies and employees is important.
Let’s get right into it.
What is employee engagement?
Today, the need for effective employee engagement and participation is greater than ever. If companies fail to engage employees, this will lead to undesirable results that should be avoided at all costs, including lower retention rates, lower productivity, poor communication, poor workplace culture, etc.
You have to work in just the opposite direction to the above, read on and we will give you a few good tips and recommendations.
Employee engagement definition
Employee engagement is defined as the overall qualitative and quantitative relationship an employee has with his or her workplace. It aligns the wishes and ideals of the employee and ensures that they are close to the organisational goals of the company.
In simpler words, it is the degree to which an employee feels passionate about his or her work and therefore consciously strives to achieve his or her work objectives – we call this employee commitment and involvement.
It should be noted that employee commitment is different from employee satisfaction.
It is about creating the conditions necessary to enable employees to maximize their potential in the workplace.
Business engagement definition
Business engagement is the relationship between an organization and its workers. It is a comprehensive set of tactics, strategies and support activities designed to promote business prosperity and success by creating valuable solutions for business needs.
Business engagement addresses
- The needs of the employer
- The needs of the employee
- Efficient internal communication and actions to promote competitive growth and business stability in the short and long term
Why is employee engagement important?
Finally, here are 11 reasons:
1. Improved productivity
Gallup polls show that employees who are committed to their company are 22% more productive than their uncommitted peers. This is because the more engaged an employee is, the better his or her communication, encouragement, positivity and contributions in the workplace.
These contributions are more likely to be done by engaged employees, who are proud and happy to come to work every day feeling appreciated and valued for their hard work.
Therefore, an effective way to improve workplace engagement is to create challenges for qualified employees and to learn motivational strategies for employees who are lagging behind in order to increase their engagement and participation.
2. Unmatched customer satisfaction
When the question “why is employee engagement important” arises, you should know that engaged employees not only get more involved, but also do lots more passionately and sincerely.
Happiness and passion are always contagious in a team. So these kinds of interactions between your employees will have a carry-over (ripple) effect on your customers.
This means that if we can keep employees engaged, it will result in happier, more engaged and involved customers who will be much more satisfied with their experience in your business.
Engagement has a hidden, sometimes neglected, carry-over effect when trying to improve our customers’ interactions and retention. All interactions that begin poorly, but end up in creating a sense of happiness and service satisfaction are more likely to create lifetime customers that provide both short and long term business value.
Remember that creating a healthy environment at work is invaluable and extends to all areas of the business and improves the achievement of the objectives we have set in the organization.
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3. Unmatched retention
Every business has its own level of retention. We must ensure that we correctly retain our most involved and committed employees. We must be able to understand their goals, needs, and feelings at work and support them at all times.
When your employees are involved, they are happy. Which means they are less likely to change jobs.
It is not a good idea to run the risk of losing the best performers by not taking steps to increase their commitment. As they are often the most likely to leave an organisation due to competing offers in the labour market.
When engaged employees go to another company and the rest realize it, they may follow. As an employer, you should anticipate this and take steps to prevent this from happening because the result could be disastrous for your business.
4. Unmatched culture
Engaged employees are the foundation of any happy, vibrant and productive work culture.
The truth is that a company is nothing without its workers. It is essential that company policies are designed around creating a positive culture for employees, while discouraging certain toxic or outdated mindsets and customs that might leak out at the top.
First of all, it is necessary to understand the mission of our company. Seek consensus and common ground shared by all employees.
In addition, we must eliminate the incompatibilities between our corporate culture and our workforce. Those employees who most share the company’s vision and culture must be well cared for, rewarded and invested in.
5. Unparalleled innovation
Engaged employees are dedicated to solving problems more creatively, are more constructive than most employees, and maintain the innovative leadership that is a must in any organization.
Every company requires innovation at its core if it is to survive in competitive markets. It has to find unique ways to solve problems that no one else can think of, relying on originality and innovation to position itself above the competition.
You will most likely get innovation from engaged employees. Its great long-term benefits are many and important.
So, if you don’t understand the value of engaging your employees, then your competitors who do understand this value and have prioritized employee engagement will easily dominate you in the marketplace.
This should not be allowed to happen and you must realize the great importance of innovation and talent committed to your organization.
6. Key performance results
Various studies have found that engaged employees outperform disengaged employees in similar work environments in almost all key performance metrics of most companies.
This clearly shows that if your company can actively engage its employees at all levels, this will translate into a better work climate, better problem solving, and more accountable and dedicated employees who are driven to carry out innovative solutions.
The best performance results are, the result of a good consensus together with a commitment to work and business excellence.
7. Exceptional management
Low participation, involvement and commitment to the company usually leads to employees having a negative perception of their middle and top management. You want to avoid this at all costs because it can only bring about low levels of productivity and an unhealthy work climate.
Those who are discouraged, uninvolved or just lack interest will find a thousand excuses and blame for any fact or situation that displeases them. It is necessary to take urgent measures to eliminate elements of toxicity in the group. Move your focus to the objectives towards processes of efficient management of talent, improvement of the internal communication and the impulse of all type of activities.
Employees will feel that of course their main values and those of the company are compatible, in good balance and perfect harmony.
Good business management and internal communication are absolutely essential to keep our employees well involved.
8. Eliminate absenteeism
Disengaged employees simply don’t show up for work and make excuses. They are often stressed or overwhelmed, unable to cope with the demands of the job to the point they resort to absenteeism.
This is a surprisingly common problem in companies, and leads to low productivity rates, delays in deadlines, discouragement, bitterness, sadness and poor relations between employees and management.
Create reasons for your employees to arrive at work to improve engagement. Silicon Valley provides some examples here, with ping pong tables, gyms, pool tables, and break rooms. These are popular options among many business giants to eliminate absenteeism and improve engagement.
9. Healthy employees
Engaged workplaces (Digital Workplaces) are more respectful of their employees’ needs and schedules. This allows them to establish a healthy balance between work and private life.
This type of work-life balance provides emotional balance and peace of mind that will result in happier and more capable employees. A healthy, inclusive, empathetic, tolerant and respectful business culture is absolutely essential in today’s 21st century.
Healthy choices in the cafeteria or in vending machines with an abundance of fruits, vegetables and even healthy food options allow the workforce to maintain and preserve health that will ultimately translate into better work efficiency.
All of these improvements in stress tolerance and widespread good practices lead to optimized business results.
For example, many organizations today have gymnasiums, yoga rooms, showers or rest areas to regain strength and work more comfortably and efficiently afterwards.
10. Healthy home life
When employees become more engaged and involved with the company, they are happier with their work, which means they are less stressed. When workplace issues and concerns are not brought home, it results in a better and happier life at home.
They don’t complain to their spouses about their work, they play more with their children, they relax more effectively, and they become healthier and more productive people both outside and inside the workplace.
11. Labour conciliation
The role of organizations is vital in promoting a civil business philosophy. We need to encourage a cultural change where talent and commitment are valued. It is essential to guarantee professional development and flexibility in an environment of equality and respect.
Facilitate the role of mothers and fathers, flexible schedules, teleworking, meeting times no later than 18:00, the right to disconnect, etc.
These policies to reconcile employees’ work and family life are a long-term investment to obtain better results because workers will show greater involvement, commitment and productivity in their day-to-day work.
These benefits translate into efficiency for the company and contribute to improving its competitiveness and sustainability.
In conclusion… why is employee engagement important?
In short, engaged employees are the best option for any organization. We must encourage commitment, talent, networking, effort and collaboration among all the people who are part of the company.
It is essential to attract and retain talent through the right motivation and incentives. Respect and encourage diversity, establish comfortable environments and value the richness of different types of leadership.
In this new era of digitalization and digital workplaces, it is necessary to create a culture and work environment that favours the commitment of employees.
In this technological revolution, it is important to promote diversity and equality. Creating a work environment that favours new ways of working, that employees feel comfortable, creative, innovative and get to be much more committed every day.
