Employee engagement is one of the most vital areas that a business should invest in. High employee engagement equates to higher employee retention. Workforce productivity can also increase significantly ultimately leading a business to flourish. Human capital is the most valuable asset for any company. It is only right to nurture and protect these assets in the long-run.
The previous year saw a historic drop in employee engagement. According to Gallup, workers who were highly enthusiastic and motivated to remain in their current line of work saw an all-time high of 38% early in 2020. These figures, however, drastically fell down to 31% in the middle of the year, which was the lowest ratio to be recorded since 2016.
Nonetheless, the percentage of employees who are actively disengaged still takes up more than half of the general workforce. Essentially, professionals that do not invest heavily in their own work only produce a minimal amount of effort required from them. This is especially true with field workers and remote employees.
Employee Engagement
Employee engagement can be simply defined as the amount of emotional involvement and commitment an individual has towards a particular role or organization. This is often linked to various factors but the most important among them is the culture that is fostered in the workplace.
Given the current circumstances of a pandemic, employees who work in the field or remotely have been severely overlooked. These setups have become common practice yet businesses are failing to prioritize their vulnerabilities. Employees who fall under these categories possess a higher chance of feeling detached and disconnected from their colleagues and the company in general.
Field Work Employees
Bolstering the engagement of fieldwork employees is much more difficult to navigate than compared to regular workers. Employees who go out on the field spend extensive amounts of time away from the traditional work environment. A certain feeling of isolation becomes a common experience for these workers.
Transportation
Providing field workers with sufficient transportation benefits and incentives can be one of the driving factors to boost their engagement. Allocating a set amount for their travel needs is one of the best ways to let these employees feel included despite their absence from the workplace.
Simple gestures like arranging auto transport services to encourage them not to drive long distances on their own would be enough to make them feel appreciated. This would, in turn, inspire them to perform their functions more effectively and efficiently.
Open Lines of Communication
Employees who do fieldwork can usually get caught up in different time-zones from their other colleagues. Allowing them sufficient avenues to reach out and stay in touch will foster better connections and aid in developing camaraderie between associates.
24/7 availability is definitely not feasible for any employee. Effectively establishing proper times for communication is tantamount to ensure that there will always be a colleague at the receiving end of the line.
Remote Employees
There has been a substantial increase in the number of employees with remote working conditions. Numerous companies chose to provide this alternative in light of the current circumstances brought about by the pandemic.
Working from home can certainly have its fair share of benefits. For instance, the daily commute to and from the workplace has been eliminated completely. Tracking employee engagements, however, can be especially challenging but there are ways to guarantee them.
Cultivate Connections
It is important to remember that aside from being professionals, workers are people too. Fostering personal connections with them at appropriate times can make them feel more engaged. Maintain regular communications with employees. Supply them with outlets that will make them feel heard and valued despite the distance.
Transparency and honesty are also key features in aiding the growth of employees. Talking to them about their individual experiences, whether praise or confrontation, will certainly make the established connections more relevant.
Encourage Collaborations
Keeping in touch at this time has been made much more convenient. For remote workers, hosting a simple video call while working can provide a semblance of presently working with their associates. Setting aside opportunities to have casual conversations can also aid employees in releasing tensions and stress they might be experiencing from work.
Incorporating certain elements of game-playing into the work environment can also foster competitiveness and cooperation between colleagues. Allowing individuals to function inside teams will likewise create a feeling of inclusivity.
Investing in employee engagement during these trying times requires creativity and innovation. Employees who have been working in the field or remotely have suffered the most under in the context of a pandemic translating to detrimental efficiency and productivity. Businesses should be wary not to overlook the conditions of these workers.
