Office administrators and department heads alike know that the impact of negative attitude and lack of company buy-in can be significant. Whether you’re looking to boost morale or increase productivity, the total employee experience is vital to the health of business.
Cultivating that engagement is no small feat. Worldwide, only 15% of employees are engaged with their work. Before we can understand how to improve employee engagement, we must get clear on what it actually means and why it is important.
The definition of the term is subjective to each company, but for the sake of this article, we’ve defined employee engagement (or total employee experience) as the overall commitment and investment an employee has to the organization.
Increased commitment and investment leads to employees who are more likely to stay in their role and contribute their best to achieve the company’s collective goals.
Why does this matter? Research shows that over 63% of companies say retaining employees is more difficult than hiring them. On average, it costs businesses $4,129 to hire new talent (not including onboarding costs). Low employee engagement not only drains morale, but costs the company close to $5,000 each time someone walks out the door.
If you need more convincing (which we’re sure you don’t), here’s a list of other reasons employee engagement is important:
- Increases productivity in the workplace
Engaged employees outperform their non-engaged peers and, overall, companies with engaged employees are 21% more profitable. - Empowers pride and drives office morale
Employee investment in the workplace is a win-win situation. When monitored over 11 years, research found that thriving company culture leads to more than 4x higher revenue growth. - Organically incites and welcomes new talent
When hiring the right person matters, talent acquisition can be costly. When determining whether to work for an organization, prospects consider reputation (22%), company leadership and their direct report (20%) and workplace flexibility (15%). In other words, what it looks like to work for a company - or the company culture - are a deciding factor for most. - Unifies the team to reduce “absenteeism”
Inattentive employees create room for error and customer dissatisfaction. A Gallup study shows that highly engaged workplaces saw 41% lower absenteeism.
If you’re ready to see an increase in both productivity and profitability, follow these best practices for boosting employee engagement.
Show Your Appreciation
Celebration of goal achievement or tenure recognition, appreciation goes a long way. Small gifts, verbal praise and public highlighting communicate value and respect. Incorporate your brand by creating custom logo corporate gifts (great for sending to clients too!). By implementing acknowledgement as a pillar, employees will work in expectation and mutual respect.
Invest in the Welcome
Brand loyalty starts at day 1 (or even before). Welcome new hires to the team with a New Employee Package - complete with logowear and essential tools/gadgets. Providing something nice to employees will spark company pride and create a sense of belonging.
Incentivize Employment
Exclusive discounts are always a perk. Various brands work with employers to create Employee Purchase Programs. A specialized discount code or customized website allows employees to purchase apparel, tools and other goods at an exclusive rate.
Unite the Team
Management of both in-person and remote staff requires authentic team spirit. With busy schedules tying up time, fighting for unification has never been more important. Quick circle ups or stand up meetings at the beginning of the day can bring everyone together without adding more to the day’s agenda. If attending an event or mobilizing a sales team, unification can come through professional, branded office wear.
Support Employee Interest
To increase investment, you need to invest. Show your employees that their interests matter by supporting initiatives that align with the collective ethos. If giving back is priority, consider participating in an “awareness walk” as a team. Showing up to an event, unified in unique company shirts or hats, provides a platform to communicate you care and support your team.
What’s the cost of investing in employee engagement? A better question is, with profitability and growth at stake, can you afford to not invest?
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