June 24, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Alternative HR.

Employee engagement is a crucial component of the overall employee experience. When employees are engaged, it boosts performance, generates new ideas and contributes to a more positive workplace culture.

“Engaging your employees leads to a more positive work environment, higher productivity and better customer satisfaction,” said Michelle Blewett, a human resources consultant with Alternative HR, an outsourced HR provider based in Sioux Falls.

Engaged employees also are more likely to stay with the company, which helps reduce turnover costs and retain valuable knowledge.

Alternative HR helps clients enhance employee engagement through a range of services designed to improve the overall work environment, including assessing the current culture of the organization, monitoring work-life balance, executing companywide surveys, providing training or coaching to the team, implementing recognition programs and more.

“With these services, Alternative HR can help organizations create an environment where employees feel engaged and motivated, which ultimately leads to improved performance, retention and organizational success,” said Kayla Johnson, an HR senior consultant at Alternative HR.

Companywide assessments or surveys are an effective method to understand employee needs and concerns, identifying possible areas of improvement within an organization. Alternative HR can work with employers to conduct the assessments, aggregate the data and provide actionable insights to leadership. Together, Alternative HR and the organization can strategize and address specific issues.

“Assessments can show that an organization can improve work-life balance, communication, recognition and more,” Blewett said. “We set expectations and help employers prioritize continuous improvement.”

Recently, Johnson conducted an employee satisfaction survey for a client and found that employees sought greater recognition for their accomplishments and more team-building opportunities. Johnson and the team came up with a creative solution that allowed leadership to have a more hands-off approach and encouraged more active participation from the employees.

“It was decided that a Culture Club would be developed, consisting of various employees throughout the organization,” Johnson explained. “The Culture Club will design and implement programs aimed at enhancing engagement, such as recognition and reward systems, team-building opportunities, wellness programs and more. It has been fun to see this come full circle and find a void that could be filled for the organization.”

In addition to surveys, Alternative HR consultants can provide training and coaching for leadership teams to improve employee engagement.

“We assess where leaders are currently and provide training and resources to help them improve,” Blewett said. “This includes teaching active listening, encouraging frequent and meaningful communication and fostering an environment where employees feel safe to share their ideas. We also emphasize the importance of empathy and understanding in leadership, helping leaders build strong relationships with their teams.”

Blewett and Johnson agree that listening is a critical skill all employers can practice to engage and retain employees.

“Supervisors have so much to handle on a day-to-day basis that listening has become a neglected skill,” Johnson said. “When listening is at the forefront, the coaching part comes naturally.”

Creating a space where employees feel safe to share thoughts and ideas is essential for fostering innovation and engagement, ultimately building a great company culture.

“It’s important to ensure that employees feel respected and free to share ideas without fear of negative repercussions,” Blewett said. “Employers should communicate openly and ask about what employees enjoy or dislike about their roles. This helps identify any areas where employees can contribute more meaningfully, even if it falls outside their current job description. Providing meaningful work that aligns with employees’ strengths and showing them how their work positively impacts the company can give them a sense of purpose within the organization.”

In addition to offering meaningful work, it is crucial to provide opportunities for growth within the organization. Training, mentorship and certification options can help employees advance in their careers and foster a greater sense of purpose.

Overall, employee engagement is a collaborative effort involving senior leadership, HR, managers and supervisors, and the employees themselves. It takes time and commitment from the organization, and when time is limited, Alternative HR can step in.

“It may take four to six months for employees to recognize and trust that genuine changes have been made before they fully embrace the new direction, so leaders must stay committed to the change,” Johnson said.

“Employee engagement can be time-consuming, and not every leader or manager has the time it takes, but that’s what Alternative HR is here for,” Blewett added. “We really get to know our clients – we get to know leadership and the employees and their culture. We’re really just part of the team.”

Free employee experience webinar

At noon July 11, Alternative HR is hosting a free webinar focused on enhancing the employee experience.

During the webinar “Enhancing the Employee Experience! Navigating Pathways to Engagement, Growth and Fulfillment,” Blewett will discuss why employee experience is more than just a buzzword, why it’s important and how business executives and HR professionals can shape it.

Attendees will learn what the employee experience entails, why it matters and discuss practical strategies to improve it at every touchpoint. The key elements of a positive employee experience and how to create a workplace where employees truly thrive also will be discussed.

To register for the event, visit alternativehr.com.

To find out more about Alternative HR services and solutions, visit alternativehr.com, or call 605-335-8198.