By Sonda Sorg, Metro Market Manager of Robert Half in IndianapolisIn today’s job market, where talent is limited and in high demand, employee engagement isn’t just a buzz word — it’s crucial to an organization’s success. As someone who’s been entrenched in the staffing world for nearly 23 years, I can speak to the importance of loving your job. According to new research from my organization, Robert Half, 50% of Indianapolis professionals surveyed said they’re very engaged at work and love their job; 30% said they’re somewhat engaged but would like to feel more challenged or have greater professional development. Workers who feel engaged are typically more productive and perform better on the job. When employees are disengaged, they may decide to look for opportunities elsewhere.
A separate Robert Half survey of U.S. executives found 63% reported worker turnover has increased in the past three years, with lost productivity, new hire training, and recruiting being the costliest aspects when employees leave. Now is the time for leaders to be taking a good look at engagement levels amongst their staff, and how it impacts retention (spoiler alert: it does).
Nic Marks, CEO of Happiness Works, believes that employees are happiest at work when they experience these three emotions on a consistent basis: enthusiasm, interest in their work and satisfaction when they’ve achieved something worthwhile. In a Robert Half study, the top drivers of workplace happiness cited by more than 12,000 professionals across North America are: having a sense of pride in one’s organization, enjoying a sense of accomplishment and being treated with fairness and respect.
Start from the Beginning
Creating a more positive work environment comes down to understanding what makes individual employees tick and what gets them out of bed every morning. Employers can start by making sure that new hires are a good fit for the position and mesh well with the team. This entails thoroughness in evaluating all aspects of the candidate during the hiring process — from expertise and experience to soft skills and organizational fit.
Managers can maintain a high level of employee engagement by empowering employees to have autonomy, while continuing to be available for support and guidance. Often, being happy at work is about doing something meaningful and being emotionally connected to larger goals and objectives. Employees who feel their work is worthwhile are 2.5 times happier than those who are simply collecting a paycheck for doing routine tasks.
Make Them Proud
As our survey revealed, feeling proud about the organization they work for is also important to being happy at work. Millennials and Gen Zers are especially interested in making a positive impact – they feel more engaged when their companies are socially responsible and involved in the local community. Workers who are proud of their organizations report that they are three times happier than those who are not proud of their employers.
Balancing Act
Hiring job candidates in a tight labor economy often requires sweetening the pot with nonmonetary perks. Along with fair compensation, offering in-demand perks and committing to maintaining work-life balance is another way to boost recruitment efforts and employee satisfaction. By providing extras like wellness programs, childcare, professional development programs, opportunities to telecommute and flexible schedules, employers demonstrate an understanding of their workers’ needs to balance professional and personal responsibilities. In a recent Robert Half survey, nearly two-thirds of Indianapolis senior managers (61%) said their organization has expanded remote work opportunities for employees in the past three years. Managers can also set a good example by not putting in excessive hours and not engaging in business activities while they are on vacation.
It’s clear that employee engagement matters to the success of any company, especially when it comes to attracting skilled candidates and retaining top staff members. While there are many things that determine workplace happiness on an individual level, consider the business benefits of fostering a more supportive and positive work environment for everyone. When your employees love their job, they feel inspired and connected to what they do – and there’s plenty employers can do to help.
Sonda Sorg is metro market manager of Robert Half in Indianapolis. Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world’s first and largest staffing firm and has more than 300 locations worldwide. Additional career and management advice is available on the Robert Half blog.
