Employee engagement has a wide range of benefits, positively impacting everything from customer loyalty to profitability.
However, when thoroughly looking into employee engagement there are two main themes that stand out: its effects on productivity and staff well-being.
Having a happy, engaged, and productive workforce is one of the most valuable assets a company can have. Yet, without the right tools and understanding, it is a concept that all too frequently remains an inactionable and illusive theory.
This guide is here to help you understand and implement employee engagement to benefit staff well-being and productivity.
What Does Employee Engagement Really Mean?
In order to increase staff happiness and productivity, a business must focus on increasing employee engagement. Employee engagement is a concept that is used to understand the relationship between an employee and the organization that they are working for.
An engaged employee is one who feels enthusiastic and absorbed by the work they are doing which, in turn, motivates them to take further actions which positively impact the organization.
In contrast, a disengaged employee may range from an individual who does the minimum amount of work required to keep their job to one who actively tries to damage the reputation and progress of an organization.
Benefiting from a happier workforce and the increased productivity levels of a highly engaged workforce isn’t a difficult task to master, all it takes is a focus on hiring the right people for the job, good training, and the use of an employee engagement platform.
What is the Relationship Between Employee Engagement and Happiness?
Although engaged employees are happier, the term employee engagement shouldn’t be used interchangeably with employee happiness.
The reason that employee happiness does not automatically equate to employee engagement is because a happy employee could be an individual who works in an undemanding role and enjoys doing little work.
Employee engagement denotes a particular kind of happiness, one that stems from having a rewarding emotional connection with your work and that contributes to a sustained, long-term feeling of satisfaction.
Research has shown that engaged employees are not only likely to feel happier at work, but in their personal lives, too, since the way you feel at work has a big impact on your life outside your office, particularly on your health and your relationships.
Why Engaged and Happy Employees will Boost Productivity
A study by the Gallup Organization was conducted on 1.4 million employees and found that organizations with high levels of engagement reported 22% higher productivity levels.
The reason that employee engagement has such a big impact on productivity is due to the fact the engagement benefits a company in a variety of different areas. The list below outlines just some impacts that high employee engagement can have on productivity.
1. Improved Employee Retention
One of the most frequently cited reasons for people to leave their jobs is the feeling of not being challenged enough, as well as not utilizing strengths and not enjoying their work. Essentially, these employees are disengaged.
High employee turnover has two main effects on productivity levels. Firstly, it takes time to find and train new employees.
Secondly, on average it takes up to two full years for a new employee to reach the same level of productivity as an existing member of staff.
2. Benefits to Customer Relations
A study by Washington State University identified a direct link between customer satisfaction and employee engagement.
The study also noted the correlation between customer satisfaction and financial success, since satisfied customers are more likely to return and recommend a brand.
The reason that employee engagement has such an effect on customer satisfaction is because a happy and motivated employee is more likely to go that extra mile to service the customer.
3. Higher Quality
Engaged employees are more likely to show higher levels of care and attentiveness in their work, which results in 40% fewer quality deficits.
4. Increased Sales
Once you understand how employee engagement benefits customer service, productivity, and quality, it isn’t difficult to imagine its impact on overall sales.
Recent research has found that, on average, organizations with high levels of employee engagement experience 20% higher sales than their disengaged counterparts.
5. Improved workplace Safety
Engaged employees are much more likely to be aware and mindful of their surrounding environments and more focused on the tasks at hand.
Higher concentration levels have been found to impact workplace safety. Studies have found that 70% fewer safety incidents occur in workplaces with high levels of engagement.
Increasing employee engagement is a win-win endeavor: not only will your staff be happier, both at home and at work, but your organization will benefit from higher productivity levels, too.
Resources:
- 14+ Best Productivity Apps 2021
- 5 Things Your Office Needs to Boost Productivity
- 12 Clever Ways to Make Your Workplace More Efficient
Author: Abdul Mateen
