A recent study by global analytics and advice firm Gallup revealed that more than one-third (38%) of UK employees experience daily stress. When your team is stressed, they don’t bring their best, resulting in higher levels of disengagement.
Several factors may have contributed to such disengagement. In particular, the cost-of-living crisis, climate change and pressure on the NHS may be behind employees’ increased feelings of worry, stress and anger—both at home and in the workplace.
With engagement rates being at an all-time low, smart employers are actively looking for ways they can reconnect with their valued colleagues.
How can employers boost employee engagement?
Employer Actions
It’s important to note that employee disengagement often leads to reduced workplace morale, which, in turn, affects performance, productivity and profitability.
Actions you could consider include:
- Invest in employee wellbeing—Employees are more likely to be satisfied if they feel connected with their organisation and they feel the business is investing in them. As such, employers should take steps to promote employee well-being, such as offering employee assistance programmes, providing mental wellbeing training and adopting other healthy lifestyle measures.
- Communicate – keep your employees in the loop – let them know how the business is performing, and their role in that performance. When they know their contribution matters, they may be more inclined to make a difference.
- Recognise work done well — Employers should consider publicly rewarding and recognising workers at all levels of their organisations for work done well as a way of creating a culture of recognition.
- Provide learning and development opportunities — Employees are less likely to become bored at work when they can learn new skills to enhance their professional development.
- Conducting performance reviews — Performance reviews provide employers the opportunity to discuss employees’ accomplishments and continue to encourage staff to bring their best to work.
Overall, focusing on the employee experience can help employers increase workforce engagement and boost productivity.