Types of Employee Engagement

The human resources department (HR) of any organization has a lot on its plate. Before sales goals can be exceeded and positive growth can occur, the well-being of the employees on the team needs to be the number one priority. 

This can be a lot to handle for HR and upper management. Fortunately, organizations like Milestone offer outsourced HR alternatives to alleviate that pressure. While it is not solely its responsibility, HR takes charge of matters related to employee engagement. That is why we have put together this blog to briefly cover the types and levels of employee engagement so that anyone can identify the importance of employee interactions. 

What are the 3 Levels of Engagement?

To better understand how employee engagement works and can be measured, we need to start with the commonly accepted levels. Employees will typically be actively engaged, not engaged, or actively disengaged. 

Actively Engaged: This is the zone where all employers want to have their employees. While it is impossible to have every single person actively engaged every day, this is what they should strive for. Actively engaged employees are passionate about their work and strive to accomplish the company mission. These employees also exude positive energy that can jump to other employees and departments. They go above and beyond what is typically asked of them to benefit those around them. For example, they may share knowledge with other employees to help with their work. These employees generally have great relationships with management and feel comfortable voicing their opinions in the workplace.

Not Engaged: This zone is where most employees are. At the end of the day, many employees view a job as a meansto provide security for themselves and their family. There will be employees that want to clock in, do their job, and then clock out. These employees tend to have a neutral outlook on the company. The good news is that many of these employees want to be actively engaged but lack the correct interactions from the company.

Actively Disengaged: This last level is not where employees should be.. Employers don’t want their employees here, and employees don’t want to be at this level either. Like the positive energy of actively engaged employees, their negative outlook on the company can spread to other employees and departments. These employees will look for any way to get out of coming to work or do as little as possible. They are also likely to be actively looking for a job elsewhere. The problem is that they did not begin their journey with the company at this level. Through a series of negative interactions, or lack of interactions they are now withdrawn from their work. This level is typically an outlier, but having even one employee here is a red flag. 

Even if all your employees claim to be actively engaged, the work is not done. By implementing proper employee engagement practices like company-wide outings, regular one-on-one meetings, and enrichment programs, you can better ensure employees remain or become actively engaged at work. 

What are Employee Engagement Strategies?

A successful employee engagement strategy will assist in creating an environment where employees can establish a positive connection with the company. So what are the best strategies you can implement to increase engagement today?

• Recognize Success: Shout out your superstar performers. Acknowledging the hard work someone does day in and day out is a super simple and effective strategy. An employee who does not feel recognized will become disengaged and eventually put in less effort. This can be done with a simple meeting at the start of each day or week where top performers are recognized for their work. 
• Open Communication: Engagement is a two-way street. Make sure all employees have a way to voice their opinions or concerns. If employees recognize that their voices are heard and the company makes changes from their comments, they will feel a sense of ownership in the workplace. There are a variety of different methods and platforms that can faciliate healthy two-way communication. 
• Cultivate Growth: If employees do not identify clear growth opportunities within your company, they will likely leave after only a brief time. Show your employees that you want them to stay and grow within the company by offering training on skills required for higher-up positions.

These are just three ways that any organization can better engage with employees. Regardless of what strategy or employee engagement model you decide to use, remember that actively engaged associates are happier and more productive.

Milestone: Engage with the Best

Outsourcing your HR offerings to a team like Milestone allows us to take on all those responsibilities so your team can focus on your work. We not only help with employee engagement by implementing data-inspired solutions, but we can also handle the administrative complexities of HR, create HR initiatives, and handle payroll. 
Contact us today if you are ready to transform what HR can offer your team!