Employee Engagement
Employees who feel supported in their jobs and who are invested in their work tend to be both more productive and more profitable for their companies.
That’s according to a recent study from Canadian consulting firm Towers Watson.
The 2012 Towers Watson Global Workforce Study surveyed 32,000 employees from 29 different markets worldwide. The goal of the study was to determine the impact of economic downturn, political turmoil, financial pressures and increased global competition on employee engagement—and how that engagement influences job performance.
Here’s what the study found.
- 35 percent of employees are highly engaged worldwide. And the report says, quote, “The data suggest we are reaching a tipping point in companies’ ability to sustain high engagement across their workforces,” end quote.
- The remaining 65 percent of employees feel unsupported, detached or completely disengaged.
- That lower engagement means employers face the prospect of lower job performance from employees, decreased productivity, higher inefficiency, greater rates of absenteeism and turnover and higher costs for chronic illnesses.
Fortunately, the study isn’t all bad news.
It offers a list of factors that have a positive influence on attracting, keeping and engaging employees. Some of the top drivers are: attractive compensation, career advancement opportunities, learning and development opportunities, trust in senior leadership and balanced workload and stress levels.