Top five ways to ignite employee engagement

David McCormack

Employee engagement is one of the fastest developing growth strategies for UK businesses, with a happy and engaged workforce shown to improve profits by as much as 12%. David McCormack, CEO of employee engagement innovators HIVE360, shares his insights into the key areas employers should consider changing if they are to successfully improve engagement and accelerate their business growth.

The positive link between a happy and engaged workforce and business growth and performance is proven. Employee engagement demands employers to commit to changing the work:life experience for their people. Based on the findings of our recent research, these are five areas employees say are important to them to achieve a good work:life balance, which will in turn, maximise employee engagement.

The right technology

Providing employees with the technology and tools they need do their role as efficiently as possible is key to facilitating productivity in the workplace, along with agile, flexible and remote working.

Poor workplace tech can cause difficulties and frustration for employees, which in turn has a negative effect on employee wellbeing, as shown in our recent survey of more than 1000 UK workers, which found that up to 60% of workers in the West Midlands feel poor workplace technology is having a detrimental effect on their work:life balance, their mental health and financial wellbeing.

Offer training and development opportunities

Training and skills development should be available to employees at all stages of their careers, to assist their personal and professional growth, increase their confidence and show their contribution and input is valued.

In this digital age, keeping employees up to date with technological developments is more important than ever and crucial to their progression, with 37% of West Midlands workers telling us that their technology and digital skills are holding them back at work.

Support employee mental and physical wellbeing

Sadly, the stigma surrounding mental health still exists, and while more people are opening up about it, close to a quarter (24%) of workers in the West Midlands say they would be uncomfortable speaking with their employer about their mental health issues. Employers can help staff feel supported by giving them access to confidential help, advice and support from experts in mental health issues as well as GP advice.

It is also useful to consider having an assigned mental health first aider in the office, allowing time off for medical appointments and developing an action plan and making necessary adjustments for workers who need support.

Look at enhancing your employee benefits

Good benefits and perks are an important sign of a good employer for 42% of the West Midlands workers we surveyed, making it an important factor for businesses looking to attract and retain talented individuals.

Employers should aim to offer a variety of benefits that will help foster wellbeing and ensure these are easily accessible at work or at home. A dedicated engagement portal can enable staff to access lifestyle benefits and welfare support and HIVE360’s mobile engagement platform gives your employees access to a range of benefits and services, from gym memberships to retail discounts.

Create a great culture with positive values

Establishing clear values and open lines of communication can help to create and nurture a positive workplace culture that puts employees at the heart of the organisation. More than a third (38%) of West Midlands workers view companies with a great culture and positive values as good employers, so creating an inclusive work environment where everyone feels listened to and respected is an important way to boost employee engagement.

Ignite your employee engagement

HIVE360 and Peach Law are hosting a free business growth event for employers in Birmingham on 27 February to explain cost-effective growth strategies for employee engagement, and discuss the findings of the HIVE360 survey. For more information and to book a place, visit: https://www.hive360.com/ignite-business-growth-event-2020/

The HIVE360 research:

Close