Two years ago, our world was completely flipped upside down. The world we once knew (what we now call the “in-person” world) came to exist solely through our computer and phone screens. Businesses closed, pay cuts increased, and our hearts yearned for answers. ‘When will we go back to normal?’; ‘Will my school reopen before I graduate?’; ‘Will I lose my job?’; ‘Can I rely on my employer to support me during this time?’ 

Whether you accept it or not, we are living in the unknown. Anything could happen at any given moment. But, now that we understand what it is like to be met with a crisis as severe as Covid-19, there are steps we can take to ensure that parts of our world do not collapse again. With a potential recession on the way, it is important to discuss how companies, businesses, and employers can best support their employees during times of crisis. Let’s talk about how to improve employee engagement, and how employee engagement can save your company. 

What is Employee Engagement?

In short, employee engagement is a matter which pertains to trust, dedication, and commitment between employer and employee. So, let’s discuss how to improve employee engagement. Deloitte defines employee engagement as “the emotional commitment an employee has to their organization and its employees, vision, and goals.” Additionally, they point out a common misconception about employee engagement: “It is NOT about employee satisfaction, high salaries or thanking an employee after a long day of work.” Employee engagement is about the relationship between the employer and the employee. So, it is pertinent to remember that employee engagement is not only an issue concerning Human Resources, it is an issue that concerns management and company leaders.

What is an Engaged Employee?

We discussed the role of the employer and how they are a crucial factor in upholding a workspace filled with solid employee engagement. But what is the role the employee plays in this and what does an engaged employee look like? An engaged employee has a specific mindset and personal conception of their role in the work unit. Reward Gateway describes an engaged employee as “someone who understands and believes in the direction the organization is going. They understand how their role affects and contributes to the organization’s purpose, mission and objectives. And lastly, they genuinely want the organization to succeed, and feel shared success with the organization.”

Our Guide to Employee Engagement

Covid-19 changed employee engagement drastically. Let’s talk about how to build employee engagement post-lockdown. 

1. Listen to Your Employees

Your employees need to feel that they are a part of a team. The more passionate they are about your company, the more committed, dedicated, and engaged they will be. Management and company leaders: be sure that you’re checking-in with your employees. Ask them for feedback about their work experience. These small acts of communication will instill trust in your employees. If they feel that their opinions, concerns, and questions are significant to their employers, they will be incentivized to work hard, especially when the going gets tough. You, the employer, have the power to create a space of “us” rather than a space of “us vs. them.” Ever heard of the saying, “there is no ‘I’ in team”? Use that logic when thinking about employee engagement. 

2. Practice Patience, Accept Failure

Understand that your methods to spark employee engagement may not always be successful. Do not give up on your employees when this happens, but rather refer back to step 1 of “Listen to Your Employees.” Evaluate why employee engagement is low from the direct source (the employees). This will help you, the employer, understand how you can create a more inclusive, engaged workspace. If your employees see your commitment to supporting them and working to meet their needs, you’re already halfway there. 

3. Make Employee Engagement a Priority

Companies with high levels of employee engagement have outstanding performance outcomes. According to a research study Gallup conducted, “those [work units] scoring in the top half on employee engagement nearly doubled their odds of success compared with those in the bottom half.” 

How FST is Helping Boost Employee Engagement

If you’re interested in learning more about how to improve employee engagement, and what employee engagement means to us at Five Senses Tastings, we encourage you to Contact Us for more information. Additionally, you can read some of our Testimonials from previous clients and guests. Remember to stay connected with us through Instagram to stay in the loop about all we do here!