Driving Employee Engagement in the Modern Workplace
When professor William Kahn’s research produced the term “employee engagement” in 1990, the workplace looked radically different. It consisted of word processors, rotary phones, fax machines and the sweet sound of dial-up internet. While this antiquated technology has been relegated to the proverbial—and literal—trash heap, one thing hasn’t changed: people.
People remain at the heart of any organization. And in the more than 30 years since employee engagement was born, getting it right now is more important than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic spurred many workers to reevaluate the role work plays in their lives. As a result, they are less likely to take or stay in jobs that underpay, underutilize or under appreciate them.
But the answer doesn’t necessarily include nap pods, espresso machines and other trappings. Employees are a lot more practical; especially when they’re facing economic uncertainty in the form of inflation and recession. According to Gallup, 64% of employees rate increases in income or benefits as very important, up from 41% in 20151.
Greater work-life balance and personal wellbeing is at the top of the list too. Delivering on these points and others makes it easier to attract, hire, engage and retain great employees.
So what’s an employer to do? Investing in a comprehensive benefits program is a great place to start. In this white paper, we’ll explore steps you can take to make it a reality.
This blog is up to date as of January 2023 and has not been updated for changes in the law, administration or current events.
