It’s Not Just Free Food — What Really Matters When It Comes to Employee Engagement

According to Gallup Poll research, less that one-third of US workers were engaged in their jobs in 2014. Gallup defines engaged employees as “workers that are involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace.”

How do you get employees engaged in the office? Is it free food? Better benefits? Funky furniture? There is a business benefit to energized and enthusiastic employees. Happy employees are actually 12% more productive. True employee engagement starts when organizations respect and empower their workforce. And that starts with transparency.

Communication = engagement

One of the simplest ways for companies to build employee engagement is through communication. But one of the areas that many companies fail to adequately communicate about is change. Change in the workplace can be very disruptive when handled without the consideration of employee needs or opinions.

Career change or changes in the workplace are some of the most stressful things a person can experience. It’s important to be transparent about the process of implementing change because it helps put people at ease and understand why it's important.

Good HR leaders always ask themselves two questions when considering change: "Will it be a surprise?" and "How would it make you feel?"

Use this thought process if you are thinking about change at an organization. What’s the message you are delivering? Are you respecting the employee? Respect for the employee is the major motivating factor when it comes to thinking about how you implement change.

Engagement = positive work environment

People love an office because they love a company. It’s not the furniture or the free food. Employees want to be invested in the organizations they work for. Companies can create this type of engagement by addressing the needs of their employees. Ask questions and respond with real answers.

Organizational communication can be an open dialogue between leadership and the workforce that leads to a positive workplace experience. Knowing that you are looking out for the best interest of the employee is the surest way to build investment among a company and get people to fall in love with your office.

What do you love about your office? Share your story on social media using #MyOffice to join the conversation. For more tips on employee engagement and making your company stand out, visit indeed.com/hire.