Today, in all types of organizations, employers are not just looking for candidates but are also building a well-thought-out strategy in keeping them engaged with their work through different means. The current changing/challenging times are caused by the pandemic, and the resulting remote working culture brings in different trends for employees to engage with their work fruitfully. In this blog, we are discussing the various employee engagement trends in 2021.

Employee Engagement – Definition

Employee engagement is a fundamental concept in the effort to understand and describe, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the nature of the relationship between an organization and its employees.

Here are the 7 employee engagement trends in 2021:

1. People-first culture

At the heart of any business is its people, who keep the wheels running. Hence, organizations worldwide adopt various means and methods to sustain their best talent. People-first culture accelerates this notion. By keeping to the people-first culture, the organizations can invest in transparent communication across all levels. A people-first culture also emphasizes the overall employee experience: taking consistent feedback, good clarity on their performance goals, and above all, aligning employees’ efforts with the overall
Organizational goals for business success.

2. Mental health wellness

Since COVID-19, the mental health wellness of the employees has become even more crucial. Detached from the office space and colleagues, the pandemic has placed the employees in an unusual work setting. Employers worldwide are increasingly focusing on being empathetic to avoid the obstacles that arise through virtual communication. Conducting webinars on mental health awareness, sharing tips on managing anxiety, and reminding employees of the benefits of a healthy routine are some of the ways through which organizations can keep a check on their remote workforce’s mental health.

You may be interested in: Health tips for busy executives

3. Work-life balance

Before the pandemic, there was a clear distinction of working hours; however, due to the remote work phenomenon, there exists a lack of a definite time to log off from work. This has resulted in employees putting in extra hours, affecting their work-life balance. Wherever possible, employers need to allow for flexible working hours and encourage proper planning for managing their employees’ time between work and leisure activities.

4. Increased Employee Benefits

Employee benefits are the perks that are offered to the workforce apart from the salary, which typically include insurance, working hours, and financial security. Globally, companies provide such benefits based on their laws in their respective countries. By investing in various benefits such as skill development, mobility in work, and extra leaves, companies are not only focusing on the increased productivity of their employees, but also on their future.

You May Be Interested In: Team Collaboration Tools for Remote Employees

5. Diversity and Inclusion

A diverse and inclusive workplace goes beyond the representation of genders and nationalities. It is also about their integration and diverse opinions in the workplace, which enhances the culture of the organisation.

According to a Medium article (The Top 5 Diversity Workplace Statistics) shows the benefits of diversity include higher revenue, more innovation, better decision making, higher rates of job acceptance when you make offers to qualified candidates, and better performance than competitors.

Formulating an inclusive HR policy, establishing a sense of belonging for all, and creating initiatives that promote inclusion are some of the ways through which organisations can foster diversity and inclusion at the workplace.

6. Professional Development

Professional development is a win-win situation for both organisations as well as employees. By investing in development, employees get to enhance their skill set, whereas organisations have a ready, competitive workforce. Today, plenty of opportunities exist through online platforms such as Udemy and Coursera, providing certifications that are relevant to their existing roles, massive open online courses, or
popularly known as MOOCs, for organisations to choose from.

Mentoring your employees, providing them with informational resources, and investing in not just enhancing their technical skillset, but also the soft skills, are some of the major employee engagement trends.

7. Culture of Recognition

One of the biggest motivators for employees remains the appreciation from their peers. By recognising good work, their morale is boosted and their motivation to perform better increases. A recognition culture does not necessarily entail fancy award ceremonies and promotions; it can also include a genuine appreciation for someone’s work. It also leads to a higher employee retention rate.

Conducting Employee Appreciation days, setting up an Employee Recognition wall and gifting company-branded gifts, such as T-shirts or mugs, are some of the small but significant ways of boosting a culture of recognition.

If you are looking to professionally manage your technical talent sourcing and recruitment, you may count on us. Please feel free to reach out.

Follow us on LinkedIn for more blogs and latest job opportunities.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright © Softest Consulting Services Limited