Workplace Culture: Create A Nurturing Environment

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October 19 2021 - Out of the 51% of workforces that don’t feel engaged, 13% are actively disengaged. That means they’re turning up to work for the sake of getting paid, and sometimes, not even turning up. There are many reasons an employee might be disengaged, from being in the wrong career to a poor workplace environment. A report by Gallup on staff engagement found companies with a higher employee engagement see a 21% increase in profitability.

A 21% increase is enormous, so how can you create a nurturing work environment that fosters employee engagement and retention and overall happiness? Keep reading to find out below.

Improved Communication

Communication is crucial in any relationship, and a communication breakdown links to many failed relationships, whether business-related or not. The problem might stem from the fact that 69% of managers feel uncomfortable communicating with employees.

There’s a superiority power complex at work, leading to 91% of employees reporting they can’t talk to their managers about a problem. It’s the same as the feeling you would have when knocking on the staff room at school - a room full of people superior to you sounds like instant judgement.

Create an avenue for communication that works for everyone, such as a WhatsApp support chat group. Although it’s easier to convey emotions with a face-to-face chat, messaging is more convenient and removes the awkwardness of a face-to-face conversation.

Rewards-Based Working

It’s simple logic that people will work harder if they know there’s an incentive there. Deploying an employee engagement strategy can increase employee engagement and motivation, thereby increasing productivity by 18% and reduce absenteeism by 30%. Also, employee rewards programs are becoming almost essential. Considering that these solutions can improve retention by up to 200%, it’s well worth it.

On average, in the UK, it costs £50,000 to onboard and train a new employee. And, on average, a company will experience an 18% employee turnover in one year. The more money you can invest in a robust staff engagement strategy, the more money you will save in the long term.

Focus On Employee Wellbeing

It’s hard to focus on employee engagement and motivation if the well-being of your staff isn’t looked after. Over the last few years, industries have invested billions to promote the importance of mental health and well-being. But considering 79% of adults commonly experience work-related stress, is there more that needs to be done?

Staff engagement has a direct correlation with mental health. A study carried out by MIND found that 60% of employees would feel more motivated and engaged if their employer focused on mental health support. Consider your company’s ethos on employee well-being and what you have in place as support.

Think about offering weekly support sessions, anonymous chats, or flexible working. Is it so hard to change the hours of the working day to accommodate someone struggling with their mental health that might not spring out of bed in the morning? Something as simple as telling an employee struggling with their mental health that they can take the morning off, or even the day, will absolutely contribute towards employee engagement and motivation.

Employees are the unsung heroes of any business, taking the brunt of the work to bring a company vision to life. Valuing and protecting loyal employees increases business profits by 21%, boosts innovation by 59%, and improves brand advocacy by 12%. It’s well worth investing in your employees!

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