DB Replies - Elprofessori

Employee Engagement

 Definition

“Employee engagement is an individual’s emotional and cognitive motivation, particularly a focused, intense, persistent, and purposive effort toward work-related goals” (McShane & Von Glinow, 2008, p. 124).

Summary

In an article titled “5 Ways to Boost Employee Engagement”, tips are shared on what an organization can do to invoke employee engagement (Marinelli, 2016). Ernesto Marinelli leads the human resources department at a company named SAP. He utilized his experience within HR to discuss what engages or disengages employees. Encouragement, credit, empowerment, development and connectivity are the five factors that he feels impacts employee engagement (Marinelli, 2016).

Discussion

Mutual feedback between managers and their direct reports is very important (Marinelli, 2016). It assists with the growth and development of both parties involved. Rewards and recognition show employees that their managers care, and they work harder when they are acknowledged for the work that they do. Establishing trust between employees and managers is a contributing factor to employee engagement, as well (Marinelli, 2016). Employees must feel confident in their leaders and feel that they have their best interest at heart. Another factor in employee engagement is teamwork. Employees feel supported and organizations benefit from the result of the ingenuity that it yields.

Employers must realize that they must cultivate a culture of employee engagement that stretches beyond yearly surveys to measure their employee’s attitudes towards their work, management and the workplace (Bersin, 2014). Leaders that are trusting and encourage work-life balance is essential (Schwartz, 2015). Marinelli believes that people do not leave organizations, they leave managers (2016). However, that is no longer the case. Research shows that there are multiple factors that affect an organization’s retention rate, namely opportunities for growth and leadership (Bersin, 2014). Only 13% of employees around the world are engaged in their jobs. (Marinelli, 2016).  However, companies are more successful when their employees are engaged. (Marinelli, 2016). Organizations are extending themselves to get employees involved, instead of just creating a positive work environment where people would want to stay (Bersin, 2014). What do you believe would create staying power for organizations? Taking your job into consideration, what engages you?

  Employee surveys have existed for some time. Do you feel that surveys are a good tool to measure employee engagement? Do you agree with Marinelli’s five suggestions to help organizations get an employee’s buy in? My job has been trying to become an employer of choice for years. However, they still have a high turnover rate. What do you think are contributing factors to employees leaving organizations? What do you believe would motivate employees to become more engaged?

Employee engagement is often perceived by how much time and energy employees invest in their jobs. However, this can often lead to poor work-life balance. The Lord is the one who gives us rest. We are told to come to the Lord when we are weary and he will carry our burdens and lighten our loads (Matthew 11:28). Employers are seeking trust from their employees, but Isaiah 26:3 instructs us to find our purpose and trust in God. For those discouraged by jobs, God reminds us that we should be obedient to our employers, out of obedience to Christ (Ephesians 6:5, NIV).

References

Bersin, Josh. (2014, April). It’s time to rethink the employee engagement issue. Forbes. Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshbersin/2014/04/10/its-time-to-rethink-the-employee-engagement-issue/#466389721827

Marinelli, Ernesto. (2016, November). 5 ways to boost employee engagement. Forbes. Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2016/11/04/5-ways-to-boost-employee-engagement/#1bb5506e2ca6

McShane, S., & Von Glinow, M. (2015). Organizational behavior (7th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill

Schwartz, Tony. (2015, March). When employee engagement turns into employee burnout. The New York Times. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/14/business/dealbook/when-employee-engagement-turns-into-employee-burnout.html?_r=0