In the Gallup’s 2017 State of the Global Workplace report, only 15 percent of the workforce is engaged in their work, 67 percent is not engaged, while 18 percent is actively disengaged. For organizations everywhere, these statistics spell trouble.
The United State of America loses about $550 billion yearly because of decreased productivity caused by disengagement. Many employees belong in the not-engaged category, a group who survives by giving the bare minimum in their job.
On the other hand, actively disengaged employees purposely sabotage their work, either by doing mediocre work or none at all. They are unhappy with their jobs, and they want everyone to know it.
Every organization is vulnerable to dangers of employee disengagement. That’s why many have implemented active and consistent measures to improve employee engagement.
Definition of Employee Engagement
Many experts have tried to define employee engagement. In 1990, the founding father of employee engagement, William Kahn, defined the term as “the harnessing of organisation members’ selves to their work roles; in engagement, people employ and express themselves physically, cognitively, and emotionally during role performances.”
In 1993, psychologist Frank L. Schmidt et al. characterized employee engagement as “an employee’s involvement with commitment to, and satisfaction with work.”
In many definitions, the words employee, loyalty, commitment, involvement, and satisfaction are often used when describing the phrase.
Characteristics of Engaged Employees
Despite their diminished numbers, engaged employees are the most potent workers. They are genuinely motivated and enthusiastic to contribute to the organization’s goals. They make use of their full talents and capabilities in their work because they believe in what their organization does.
Inspired and empowered, engaged employees excel at everything they do. They give more than what is required of them, without being told to. They are valued by any organization for their exceptional work ethics, efficiency, effectivity, and creativity.
Importance of Employee Engagement
The benefits of employing engaged workers are tangible. Increased productivity and profitability, high customer retention, and decreased employee turnover have been reported in organizations with high employee engagement.
A research published by Engage for Success in 2014 reported several findings. Organizations in the top quartile were ahead of those in the bottom quartile in several areas.
Organizations with high engagement scores had the following:
- Twice the annual net profit
- Greater revenue growth by 2.5 times
- Twelve percent higher customer satisfaction
- Eighteen percent greater productivity
- Forty percent less employee turnover
The success of employee engagement is measurable and apparent in the benefits that engagement-committed organizations reap from their efforts
Role of Organizations
Top-performing organizations enjoy their high placement because of their commitment to employee engagement, among many others. They take active roles in creating and sustaining engaged employees. They are fully committed in investing their resources to ensure the satisfaction and engagement of their workers.
Employee engagement calls for organizations to go beyond what their employees need. They ensure their employees’ physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. They assemble free regular services, like medical checkups, fitness classes, creative activities, and drug detox programs that promote employee welfare. They develop strategies to create a positive work environment and promote work-life balance.
They know the value of manager-employee relationship. They select leaders who are compassionate, transparent, and committed to helping their members. Engagement-committed organizations prioritize their members’ growth, employment satisfactions, and overall well-being.
Last Thoughts
Engaged employees are the greatest asset that any organization can have. They bring in positivity, energy, enthusiasm, and excellence in the workplace. They can translate their passion and commitment into tangible results.
More than generous monetary compensation and mandated benefits, engaged employees place greater value on the trust, the effort, and the commitment the organization bestows upon them. When organizations take good care of their members, their members will return the favor.
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