5 Employee Engagement Trends of 2019
Employee engagement trends continue to be one of the most important differentiators for organizations in 2019. It is an aspect that a significantly large number of organizational leaders have thought about recently. Engaged employees take pride in being part of a broader mission, and at the same time they are aware of how their work has helped them grow, and they understand the impact they have made on others.
When an employee feels engaged, results have shown that an organization will benefit from higher customer satisfaction levels, improved productivity, and greater profits.
- A sense of purpose at work: Successful and engaged teams are comprised of employees who have a sense of purpose. Every role has a specific meaning in an organization, and when individuals understand the impact of their efforts, it is easier to work toward goals and feel a sense of purpose. In a recent survey, when polled on career priorities, 57% of younger Americans responded that the most important factor was personally enjoyable and meaningful work (https://blog.bonus.ly/employee-engagement-trends). Attaining a sense of fulfillment is necessary for optimal engagement. According to Imperative’s Arthur Woods, work is no longer the means to an end, and intrinsic motivators are more powerful today than ever before. (https://blog.bonus.ly/employee-engagement-trends) A sense of purpose is linked to a longer lifespan, better resilience, less time in medical care, and a happier life.
- Opportunity for professional development: Employees expect a wide range of learning and development opportunities to stay engaged from the companies that equip them. Those Engaged employees will have the drive to grow and improve, whereas not empowering their development leads to stagnation. Organizations must consider this as a worthwhile investment in human capital. It is a method which enables leaders to influence the growth of individuals.
- Maintaining a work-life balance: Embracing flexibility is the highlight of the employee engagement scene. Seeking a work-life balance is not a new concept, but the desire to maintain this balance is much higher now. Changing dynamics of work and the associated technologies enable that employees no longer need to physically present in the office/work area every day. Effective policies at work such as work-from-home options, flexible office timings, remote location working options, etc. go to prove this point right. As per a survey from FlexJob, 75% of workers said they experience higher productivity at home and encountered fewer distractions, less stress from commuting and fewer office politics. At an organizational level, this could turn out to be a cost-effective measure.
- Millennials and Gen Z friendly employee benefits: Today Millennials make up the most significant section of the workforce. At some point, they will soon form half of the workforce in the next year and three fourths by the year 2030. A subsequent generation is also known as Gen Z will follow that will be even harder to impress and retain! This is due to the talent acquisition system changing at a stunning rate. Companies are now competing to attract the best talent. The job profile including the perks and benefits offered plays an important role.Employees now prefer unique and personalized benefits. There is no longer a period when employees will stick with one particular organization for almost their whole life. Today’s jobs are not just about the food-clothing-shelter matrix. Instead, today’s employees look for a deeper meaning and relevance in a job role.Most companies use a point-based reward system for gifting and rewarding employees. Other millennial-friendly benefits offered by companies include Free snacks, Napping rooms, Free breakfast, paid holiday, Paid fitness memberships, vacation time, etc.
- Blending technology with culture, care, and compassion: Technology will continue to be a more significant part of the picture in an employees engagement. Combining the technical prowess with a compassionate approach is of critical importance. Despite technological advancements, people will still seek out, appreciation, compassion, and recognition. Emotional intelligence and technology are essential aspects of any business today, and Millennial employees will seek out a greater sense of belongingness to their organization.
