What is Employee Engagement?

What is Employee Engagement?


AE Logo

Recession or not, we have resources to help your business master this moment of high interest rates, labor shortages, sticky inflation and slower growth. We've put together our Agility & Excellence Resource Center to bring you strategies and solutions with a finger on the pulse of what's ahead.


Employee Engagement Strategies for Challenging Economic Times

In these uncertain economic times, many employers and workers dwell on the negative. However, successful organizations focus their energies inward, investing in their most important asset — people. Through employee engagement initiatives and retention strategies, your business can ensure teams remain intact and productive even when upheaval seems to reign outside.

Why is Employee Engagement so Important?

Companies can gain a competitive edge in weathering the challenging economic environment by focusing on employee engagement and satisfaction. Investing in employees during hard times can be a key to success, as organizations with high employee engagement have lower absenteeism and turnover while experiencing higher productivity, profitability and customer loyalty.

What Are the Basics of Employee Engagement?

Employee engagement goes beyond satisfaction and commitment to include being part of something larger, having ownership over work and having meaningful connections with coworkers. It is defined as the level of enthusiasm and dedication that employees have for their job and workplace. As a result, employee engagement directly impacts employee performance and productivity. However, employee engagement is a two-way street, and employers must actively participate.

Ways to Increase Employee Engagement

Cultivate Trust — Employee engagement involves developing an environment of trust and respect between employers and employees that encourages open communication, goal setting, positive feedback and rewarding success.

Upbeat Management Style — A positive manager-employee relationship creates an environment where employees can thrive and job satisfaction increases. It's not always easy, as managers are responsible for motivating and guiding their workers, holding them accountable and cultivating respectful working partnerships. Train supervisors in the necessary leadership skills to lead by example and develop mentorship connections that can influence positive change.

Team Building — Employee engagement also includes building solid teams and fostering healthy relationships among coworkers. Organize team-building activities, ensure that everyone is aware of their roles on the team and provide opportunities for collaboration.

Professional Development — Employee engagement isn’t just about making work easier for employees; it’s also about creating an environment that encourages employees to reach their full potential. Provide employees with the necessary resources to succeed, invest in their professional development and training, and create workplace policies that promote equity and respect.

Recognition — Continually recognize employees for their efforts and achievements. Find reasons to compliment employees on their work and encourage this among all staff. Consider creating a formal employee recognition program that allows teammates to share accomplishments. If funding permits, reward employees for their hard work with bonuses, gift cards, an extra day off or other perks.

These engagement tactics should be coupled with yearly employee engagement surveys that can be used to better understand how employees feel about their roles, working environment and overall job satisfaction. Additionally, frequent communication between management and staff could help reduce potential issues or concerns.

Employee engagement plays an essential role in the success of any business. Employers can create a productive and positive work environment that will help them remain competitive in today’s changing economy.


© Copyright CBIZ, Inc. and CBIZ CPAs P.C. (together, “CBIZ”). All rights reserved. Use of the material contained herein without the express written consent of the firms is prohibited by law. This publication is distributed with the understanding that CBIZ is not rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. The reader is advised to contact a tax professional prior to taking any action based upon this information. CBIZ assumes no liability whatsoever in connection with the use of this information and assumes no obligation to inform the reader of any changes in tax laws or other factors that could affect the information contained herein.

CBIZ is the brand name for CBIZ CPAs P.C. and CBIZ Advisors, LLC (together), a national professional services company providing tax, financial advisory and consulting services to individuals, tax-exempt organizations and a wide range of growth-oriented companies. CBIZ Advisors, LLC is a fully owned subsidiary of CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE: CBZ). CBIZ CPAs P.C. is an independent CPA firm that provides audit, review and attest services, and works closely with CBIZ, a business consulting, tax and financial services provider. CBIZ and CBIZ CPAs P.C. are members of Kreston Global, a global network of independent accounting firms. This publication is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws and treaties. Material contained in this publication is informational and promotional in nature and not intended to be specific financial, tax or consulting advice. Readers are advised to seek professional consultation regarding circumstances affecting their organization.

What is Employee Engagement?https://www.cbiz.com/Portals/0/Images/CBIZ_HCM_article_2023_employee_engagement.png?ver=YrBNj843xamgE7eWokJADg%3d%3dhttps://www.cbiz.com/Portals/0/Images/CBIZ_HCM_employee_engagement.png?ver=vV_NutQBnlbZAumdOuILiA%3d%3dDiscover strategies for boosting employee engagement during economic recessions. Learn how investing in your people can keep your business competitive amid high interest rates, labor shortages, and slower growth.2023-02-22T17:00:00-05:00Employee engagement is a critical lever for business success. Improve your understanding of employee engagement and how to move the needle.Employee ManagementHRIS SolutionsPayroll ServicesYes