Back to the Future – 6 Months Later, Where Does Employee Engagement Stand?

  Last year, you may remember that Thymometrics was included in a special Bersin report on the future of HR technology. As a leader in the employee engagement space, we are dedicated to improving this facet for all the companies we work with. Our real-time engagement solution takes a modern approach, but we understand the very human side of managing employees will always be paramount. Now, a few months on from that report, we wanted to provide an update on what’s happening currently in terms of employee engagement.

Employees are getting a little happier about their jobs

According to Gallup's annual Work and Education survey results, workers in the USA are positive about their physical safety, co-worker relations, job security and flexibility of work hours. They are least happy with health benefits, earnings, promotions, and job-related stress levels. However, 10 out of 13 traits of work have edged up in satisfaction levels since 2015.

Employees are increasingly transparent about their work experiences

With the popularity of company review sites, such as Glassdoor, employees have a voice and they are not afraid to use it. According to Glassdoor, around 70 percent of the employees who write reviews saying they are OK or satisfied with the company and their job. The average company rating is said to be 3.4 on a scale of 1 to 5. But wouldn’t it be far more productive for companies to take the time to gather feedback from their employees on a regular basis instead of reading reviews from former disgruntled employees? They could make a better impact this way. Plus the data comes from active employees vs. mainly former ones; a much better representation of engagement levels.

Many more recruitment teams and employers will be rated by candidates

Creating a positive candidate experience is becoming vital in a highly competitive world. Therefore, companies need to be ever mindful of the reviews that candidates write about them. One of the best ways to capture this information is during the interview stage, then at 30 day intervals once employees are onboarded. Rejected candidates can also be sent a survey to see how the company did. This rating system is much like the experience that customers are treated to when they place an order or contact product support.

The world of work is rapidly leaving traditional nine to five behind

Another major trend that we are already seeing is the end of the formal work schedule and the inclusion of multiple flexible and remote work opportunities. Talent is becoming more important than sticking with any one employer for long, and many people are working in relative freedom through multiple gigs and contracts. Software is emerging to manage talent based on skills rather than on individuals, connecting the right skills with the right projects. However, be warned that this population of the workforce often feels the most isolated from peers. Engagement surveys can be used to measure how connected they are to the organizations they work for. So, as you can see, there is a shift away from the company calling all the shots and a move towards 2-way interaction, giving the employee more say in how businesses are run. The prime way to ensure your business is seen in the best light, and as a great place to work, is to simply ask your employees their views on a regular basis through real-time employee engagement solutions. It’s good to talk!

To find out how you can benefit from real-time employee engagement surveys, contact Thymometrics by email info@thymometrics.com, call +1 646 760 9323 (US) or +44 (0) 1223 750 251 (Europe) or visit thymometrics.com. Image courtesy of thampapon1 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net