In today’s job market, organisations across all sectors are experiencing increased job vacancies at various levels. It is well-established that high levels of employee engagement play a crucial role in promoting employee retention, driving organisational success, improving performance, and fostering company culture. Therefore, understanding the level of employee engagement within your organisation becomes essential.
Assessing Employee Engagement
Wondering how to begin assessing employee engagement? To get an accurate and thorough insight into your employee’s feelings towards work, it’s essential to start by asking the following questions:
- Has your organisation witnessed a rise in resignations over the past year?
- Are your support staff struggling to manage their workload?
- Are there more frequent requests for personal leave?
- Do employees feel a sense of purpose and connection to the organisation’s mission?
- Are employees actively involved and motivated in their work?
- How well do employees collaborate and communicate with their peers and superiors?
- Do employees feel valued and recognised for their contributions?
- Are employees provided with opportunities for growth, development, and advancement?
- Is there a healthy work-life balance and support for employee well-being?
- Are employees aware of the organisation’s goals, strategies, and future plans?
- Do employees have trust and confidence in their leaders and managers?
- Are there clear channels for feedback, suggestions, and employee voice?
The answers to these questions will offer a valuable view into your organisation’s level of employee engagement – and therefore predict its levels of employee retention. We can’t stress enough that assessing employee sentiments and addressing areas of concern is imperative. By focusing on these challenges, you can overcome obstacles and harness the positive impact of your organisation’s purpose and mission.
Key Trends in Employee Engagement
Based on our aggregated employee engagement survey results within the not-for-profit (NFP) sector, Pathways Australia has identified several key trends that organisations should be aware of. These trends provide valuable insights into the current state of employee engagement within the sector:
Reduction in the Perceived Effectiveness of Leadership Teams
Employees are expressing a decrease in confidence regarding the effectiveness of their organisation’s leadership teams. This trend highlights the importance of addressing leadership development and enhancing leadership capabilities to regain employee trust and support.
Decreased Awareness of Future Plans and Strategies
A decline in the awareness and understanding of one’s organisation’s future plans and strategies are being reported in recent years. This lack of clarity can lead to a noticeable lack of engagement amongst a team.
A Decline in Internal Communications Between Departments
We’ve found that members of many organisations are experiencing less effective communication between different departments. This can lead to silos, misunderstandings and hinder collaboration and productivity.
Increase in Employee Engagement Towards Direct Managers
On a positive note, employees are expressing higher levels of engagement and satisfaction with their immediate managers. Strong relationships between employees and their direct managers play a vital role in employee engagement and retention.
By understanding these trends and their implications, organisations can proactively address areas of improvement and implement strategies to enhance employee engagement.
Driving Positive Change
Understanding how your employees perceive the effectiveness of your organisation, its leadership team, and the impact of remote work on internal communications is vital. By conducting an employee engagement survey through Pathways Australia, you can gain valuable feedback and actionable data about your employees’ thoughts and feelings regarding the organisation, their work, management, leadership, training, and more.
Armed with this knowledge, you can make informed decisions, implement necessary improvements, and witness enhanced morale, productivity, KPI achievement, and overall success.
Invest in Your Workforce
Employee engagement and retention require a delicate balance of listening, understanding, and improving. There is no better time than now to invest in your workforce and capture insightful data that informs your organisation’s strategies.
As a leading provider of surveys and training courses for the not-for-profit sector, our employee engagement and satisfaction surveys at Pathways Australia allow you to gather invaluable feedback regarding your team’s thoughts and feelings regarding their work environment. With over 20 years of experience working with NFP organisations and leaders, People and Culture Managers, and organisational psychologists, our employee engagement survey has been designed specifically for NFP organisations.
Start collecting valuable insight into your organisation today. For more information, get in touch with us.
