Every business, in the end, is a product of the outcome and involvement of its employees. Today’s business world is quite dynamic and competitive. In such times, employee engagement has emerged as a critical factor. In layman’s terms, employee engagement is the employee’s commitment to the organisation. It is the bond or the connection the employee has with the organisation. This could be credited to the organisation’s culture, mission statement, or leadership.
Who are actively engaged employees?
There is a clear distinction between actively engaged and disengaged employees. Actively engaged employees are proactive and more involved in different processes of the business. They are optimistic and eager to learn more. Such employees are more team-oriented and they go beyond their means to achieve the necessary outcomes. Also, actively engaged employees are loyal to their work and the organisation as compared to disengaged employees. The passive employees can feel disconnected from the work, and resort to procrastination and short-cuts.
Why should you consider improving employee engagement?
Employee engagement plays a significant role in modern times. It could be a differentiating factor – the USP of the organisation. There are many benefits of improving employee engagement. Some notable ones are:
Reduced Absenteeism
Absenteeism is a gripping issue for organisations. It is a costly problem faced by the management. It interferes with the flow of work. Mostly absenteeism can be credited to heavy workload and disengagement. If an organisation improves its employee engagement, it can eventually reduce the number of monthly absences. It is because employees who enjoy their work and feel connected with the team will take fewer day-offs. Your company can also utilize HR software solutions to keep track of employee attendance. This allows you to see who among your employees is productive and who isn’t, and to bring this to their attention.
Boosted Productivity
There is a correlation found between increased productivity. When employees feel valued and appreciated, they are more mindful of their time and work. Involved employees tend to be active with their tasks and produce higher outcomes as compared to disengaged employees.
Higher Customer Satisfaction
Customers are prime stakeholders for an organisation. Customer satisfaction is an essential metric for every business. Improved employee engagement can lead to better customer satisfaction. This is because employees who believe in their organisation are more successful in making the customers believe in the organisation as well. So, for the higher satisfaction of the customer base, it is necessary to focus.
Lower Turnover
Employee engagement connects the employee with many intangible aspects of the business. It also incorporates an emotional bond. Such a connection with an organisation makes it hard for the employee to leave. So, employee engagement can, in the long run, lead to a lower turnover.
Conclusion
There are many additional benefits as well, such as the better mental health of employees, employee satisfaction, positive branding of the organisation, etc. So, employee engagement has many benefits, and it should be actively pursued by the Human Resources team of the organisation. There are many HR software systems available for this as well. With the help of such systems, managers can keep a track of the activities and the participation of the employees.
