Employee Engagement

The pandemic has forever changed how we do business. Once people realized they could work from home and perform their job just as efficiently, or in some cases, more efficiently, many saw no need to return to the “old” days of time-consuming, expensive, and stressful commutes. On the other hand, are those workers that feel increasingly isolated at home and can’t wait to get back to the office. This leaves organizations struggling to figure out how to balance some employees’ desire to return to the office with other’s preference to stay remote.

By Theresa Harkins-Schulz
Shaping company culture is like developing any relationship; it requires commitment, trust, communication, and a common goal. A positive team culture has been proven to increase employee engagement and generate more positive business outcomes.

By Catherine Turner
You’ve no doubt heard the talk about the “turnover tsunami” that is resulting in a mass exodus of employees — not only from their specific jobs, but from the workforce in general! The pandemic has provided employees both with a taste of freedom and flexibility that many didn’t previously have and with plenty of time to contemplate and consider what they want from their lives and their careers.

"A little extra effort on Employee Appreciation Day can go a long way in showing your team they’re at the heart of your organization’s success.

By Terri Moore
Media reports and social media channels these days are full of data and stats related to the “great resignation” of employees of all ages, and across all types of jobs. Much of this exodus has been reported to be related to employees’ experiences during the pandemic. Working from home has provided many employees with more control over their work/life balance, as well as the opportunity to re-examine their work/life values.

the widespread understanding among organizations of all kinds that the employee experience is directly related to, and has a significant impact on, the customer experience.... The term “employee experience” has become a very popular buzzword over the past several years. Do a quick Google search and you’ll come up with 7.8 billion results. Even putting the term in parentheses yields almost 2.5 million results.

By Lindsey Lyons
Trying to complete a project or task at work when feeling unwell, tired, stressed, or unhappy can be challenging. Those feelings can also disrupt team culture as they negatively affect how a person interacts with others. With the global pandemic in its second year, we are seeing more and more people struggling with these feelings. So, how do you address your employees' physical, mental, emotional, and social needs? Incorporating wellness into your employee engagement strategies and using an engagement platform like Inspirus® Connects, are two ways to accomplish this.

By Sean Mayo
The most successful organizations recognize the value of engaged employees and understand that engagement is driven to a large degree by recognition and rewards — not just from managers, but from peers, customers, and others. However, the challenge companies face is that the more they grow. The more challenging it becomes to recognize employees consistently and appropriately for the contributions they make. Employing the right employee engagement strategies can make a big difference.

By Kelly Briggs
The downtime during the pandemic shutdown of 2020, coupled with this past summer, gave us all a lot of time to catch up on our reading. We explored new books, re-read old favorites, and exchanged picks with our friends and co-workers, all with the purpose of enjoyment, enlightenment, and continuous learning.

By Kelly Briggs
It’s been a rough time for all of us since COVID-19 emerged and changed the work world forever. Just as employers thought they would be soon getting back to some semblance of normalcy, the Delta variant surfaced causing many to shutter or shift plans to call employees back to the workplace and attempts to go back to “business as usual.” Many have accepted the likely reality that business will never be back to usual — business leaders will need to learn to navigate, lead, and inspire in a workplace where some employees (and managers) will be on site and others will be working remotely.

By Kelly Briggs
With COVID-19 vaccines easing the many virus restrictions on our everyday lives, the time has finally come for many workers to return to the office. But although the transition back may be welcomed by some, many are having a challenging time with it.

By Kelley Briggs
In recent years, it has become evident that creating a company culture that encourages employee engagement does more than simply keep your workers content. According to Gallup, a highly engaged business unit is 21% more profitable than your average company and receives 10% more approval... in customer ratings. It follows then that engagement will not only be a major focal point in 2021, but it will assume a deeper meaning, a way for organizations to attract and retain the best talent... Techniques for Employee Rewards and Recognition to consider.

By Kelly Briggs
Work-related burnout is more common than many of us may realize. Nearly two-thirds of US workers have experienced burnout. For many employees, the COVID-19 pandemic has added another layer of stress to their already hectic lives.

By Kelley Briggs
It’s more important than ever for managers to make sure their employees feel valued and acknowledged for their efforts. It doesn’t take much, but during times like this, simple gestures can make a huge impact. One of the most effective ways to acknowledge employees is to know their recognition preferences. It can be as easy as knowing they prefer a quick thank you email instead of being recognized in front of others in a team meeting. Find what forms of recognition resonate most with your employees.

By Kelley Briggs
You never get a second chance to make a great first impression. When it comes to introducing new hires to your company culture, the onboarding and training experience is a huge opportunity to initiate employee engagement by communicating your mission, vision, and values from day one. Employees who feel connected to the company's "why" bring more of themselves to work, are more engaged, and more loyal.