It’s a dog-eat-dog world. Your company’s success hinges on employee engagement. Because when your team is fully invested in their roles, business thrives. But what happens when they’re not? A lack of motivation typically stems from inadequate tools or unrecognized efforts (to name a few). This breeds disengagement, high turnover, and a battered bottom line. As an employer, this should be a top concern. Don't worry, we have the solution. Here’s how to engage your employees with a workplace recognition program.
Why Employee Engagement Matters
Employee engagement reflects how emotionally invested employees are in their work and the company’s success. Studies show that high engagement results in higher motivation, productivity, output quality, and loyalty. Low engagement does the opposite.
Achieving high employee engagement requires building a positive and dynamic workplace environment. This has the added benefit of attracting new talent.
A company with happy, engaged, and motivated employees grabs the attention of other professionals. Therefore, investing in employee engagement strategies is foundational for any organization, regardless of size.
Increase Employee Engagement: 4 Proven Strategies
For employees to truly engage, they need to feel heard, valued, and supported by the organization. Your management team can significantly boost employee engagement through genuine appreciation, encouragement, and actively supporting their development.
Here’s how to achieve this with 4 proven engagement methods:
Improve Internal Communication
Effective communication is the backbone of a positive and engaging workplace culture. It ensures employees understand their roles, feel valued, and stay informed. Unfortunately, this is an ongoing struggle for many businesses.
Poor communication leads to misunderstandings, frustration, and disengagement. It can even make it difficult for team members to access the resources needed to complete their tasks. Therefore, it’s critical to tighten up your internal communication strategies to ensure clarity, support, and engagement across all levels.
Recognize & Reward Your Employees
Recognition is a powerful motivator. A study by Gallup revealed that employees who feel underappreciated are 200% more likely to quit within the next year. When employee contributions are recognized, they’re more likely to go the extra mile and stay long-term.
Incorporate recognition into your management strategy to boost morale, productivity, and loyalty. Here are some impactful ways to do this:
- Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge and reward employees for their accomplishments with personalized gifts.
- Special Occasions: Mark important dates and show appreciation for their loyalty.
- Personal Milestones: Celebrate birthdays and other personal events with thoughtful gifts and messages.
Employee recognition is not only cost-effective, but it also strengthens your employer brand so the company stands out as a desirable place to work. This is a significant draw for potential candidates.
Invest in Employee Development
Support and training are also crucial for maintaining an engaged workforce. Employees who receive regular training and development opportunities are more confident and effective in their roles.
Invest in job-specific training and career development programs to boost productivity and loyalty. This investment pays off by retaining top talent and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Seamless Onboarding Process
First impressions matter. A smooth onboarding process sets the tone for new employees. Ensure new hires understand how the organization operates, know whom to contact for support, and feel welcomed from day one. A well-structured onboarding program increases engagement and helps new employees settle in quickly.
Accolad is Your Partner in Employee Engagement
Struggling with employee engagement? Noticing a dip in productivity? Accolad is here to help. As experts in employee recognition solutions, we offer various effective options to recognize and motivate your team.
Our Accolad universal gift card is a versatile and quick solution suitable for any Canadian business. It provides easy access to various gifts from top Canadian and American companies so your employees feel valued and appreciated.
Choose the Right Solution for Your Team:
- Virtual gift cards are perfect for instant, personalized recognition. Affordable and flexible, you can choose the amount and quantity that fits your budget. Employees can redeem their virtual card for a preferred gift from our rewards store.
- Traditional gift cards are ideal for those who prefer physical gifts. These cards can be used for an array of rewarding experiences and tangible items.