Creating a Culture of Employee Engagement
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Date
2018
Authors
McDiarmid, Laura D.
Keyword
Employee Engagement , Workplace Culture , Burnout , Internal Communication , Community
Abstract
Building a culture of employee engagement is essential for all organizations that wish to be innovative and successful while decreasing employee burnout. This project examines the need for an employee engagement plan and then lays out the core components of creating a plan in any sector.
The literature outlines the way employee engagement started as a business trend and then matured to become a vital aspect of any workplace. Giving employees a sense of belonging and community in their workplace, connection to co-workers and superiors, as well as, allowing them to have autonomy and growth opportunities creates higher productivity, better financial outcomes and a happier, healthier workplace. Internal communications and recognition are also vital components of creating a culture of employee engagement. Through effective and regular communication, employees feel they are part of the organization. Recognition has been shown to positively effect not only the person being recognized, but also the other members of the team, and is a simple and effective way to increase employee morale.
Through a Deming Cycle process of continuous improvement, I have created an Employee Engagement Plan that can be adapted for implementation in any sector. This plan was created by building specific initiatives and activities that focus on creating and building community, including charitable initiatives, enhancing employee communications, promoting recognition, empowering employee leaders, and encouraging professional and personal growth of employees. As part of the purpose of this project, components of this plan have been launched in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University including a survey to measure engagement levels, appreciation initiatives, an internal communications strategy, and a number of events to bring people from all levels of the organization and various units together. It is
through these initiatives that we are creating a culture of employee engagement leading employees to feel connected and supported to the organization they work for.