With its people focus on all levels of the organization, HR is a primary facilitator of employee engagement.
When there’s a true partnership between workers and their employers, that’s employee engagement at its best. Dedicated to their employers and enthusiastic about their jobs, they take pride in their work and their contributions to the organization. It all starts with feeling valued and supported and knowing that their efforts are aligned with the company’s mission and goals. In this article, we will explore the rich benefits of employee engagement and how HR can help you achieve it in your company.
Does employee engagement really matter?
The evidence is clear: companies with engaged workforces consistently outperform those with disengaged employees. High employee engagement offers benefits like increased productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction. Consider these revealing facts:
- Companies with highly engaged workforces are 21% more profitable. (World Metrics)
- Organizations with highly engaged employees have 59% less turnover. (Gallup)
- Employee disengagement costs the economy nearly $2 trillion per year (Business Insider)
- Companies with engaged employees experience a 41% reduction in absenteeism (World Metrics)
Despite these advantages, engagement is declining. In 2024, the ratio of engaged to actively disengaged employees dropped to 1.8-to-1, a decrease from 2.1-to-1 in 2023 (Gallup). This downward trend signals growing challenges for businesses, suggesting that disengagement may be increasing as employees face burnout, dissatisfaction, or lack of alignment with company values. It’s more critical than ever for organizations to prioritize a culture of engagement to retain top talent and drive long-term success.
HR is essential in building a culture of engagement.
All departments in the company can and should execute employee engagement measures, but HR is particularly vital to this effort. They have the expertise to know what methods best drive engagement, how these tactics can be measured, and the steps required for continuous improvement. Here are six of the many ways HR can play a key role in reinforcing and boosting employee engagement in your organization.
1. Ensuring cultural alignment.
HR plays a crucial role in identifying the best candidate for each open position, not just in terms of skills and experience, but also with regard to cultural fit. During the interview process, HR professionals assess whether a candidate will align with the company’s values and contribute to its culture. Will they complement the team dynamic? Will they embrace the organization’s core beliefs? Beyond the hiring process, HR is instrumental in reinforcing the company culture. After the initial onboarding, HR professionals foster this cultural alignment by consistently communicating company values across all levels of the organization.
2. Connecting roles to organizational goals.
HR plays a pivotal role in managing the organization’s annual performance appraisal process. While traditionally focused on evaluating performance, HR can also leverage this process to drive employee engagement. By helping employees understand how their individual contributions align with the company’s broader objectives, HR creates a clear connection between personal goals and organizational success. This approach enhances employee motivation and fosters a sense of ownership and pride in their role, ensuring they see the value of their contributions in the larger context of the company’s mission.
3. Supporting growth and learning.
By offering access to training programs, mentorship, and career development resources, HR ensures that employees feel supported in their professional journeys. Fostering a culture of continuous learning not only boosts engagement but also helps retain top talent by demonstrating the company’s investment in their future.
4. Keeping people connected.
As organizations evolve and remote workforces become the norm, it becomes easier for employees to feel isolated from their colleagues. Regular and frequent internal communications are essential to ensuring that the workforce is kept in the loop, up to date, and involved. Often these communications are HR’s responsibility with additional support from other departments. Whether it’s a change to your organization’s policies or important company updates, sharing information in a timely manner can go a long way to boosting employee engagement.
5. Creating a culture of recognition.
Does your organization regularly and publicly acknowledge and reward team members? Even if a few leaders and managers regularly thank staff members for their efforts, going the extra mile to make it an integral part of your company culture will pay off handsomely. Recognizing employees routinely can produce a positive vibe in the office, as well as motivation for other staff members to improve their own performance. Human resources can play a role in encouraging people at all levels of the organization to demonstrate gratitude for their colleagues’ contributions. Whether that means establishing a mechanism for people to thank one another publicly or introducing an awards program, recognition is an essential element of an engaged workforce.
6. Supporting teamwork and collaboration.
HR helps cultivate a collaborative work environment where cooperation is valued and encouraged. Whether through team-building activities, interdepartmental projects, or fostering open communication, HR can help ensure that employees feel connected and empowered to work together. A culture of collaboration strengthens employee engagement by promoting trust, innovation, and a sense of belonging throughout the organization.
HR is vital to creating a positive working environment where all employees feel valued. By taking measures to support employee engagement, the department can play a pivotal role in improving productivity and impacting the overall success of your organization.
For nearly 30 years, The HR Team has been helping companies develop customized employee engagement strategies that work for their unique cultures. Please reach out to our knowledgeable professionals to learn how we can assist your organization, too.
About The HR Team: Founded in 1996, The HR Team is a Maryland-based human resources outsourcing firm committed to developing strategic, customized solutions that respond to the unique needs and cultures of organizations of all types and sizes. Available as a one-source alternative to an in-house HR department or on an à la carte project basis, the company’s flexible service models address the full spectrum of HR needs that many organizations struggle to address. The HR Team helps clients achieve their highest level of success by providing value-driven human resources services that leave them time to focus on what they do best: directing business growth and profitability. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, the firm serves all of Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. To learn more about The HR Team, call 410.381.9700 or visit https://www.thehrteam.com/.
