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Career growth and upskilling are some of the most significant factors behind employee retention. The HR Reporter reveals that nine out of ten Canadian employees feel stagnant in their roles, leading to hesitations on whether they should stay at their current workplace or find another job. It isn’t for lack of trying, though, as almost half of the current workforce has expressed the desire to develop their professional skills. The problem is that many employees don’t know where to begin. As such, it’s up to an organization’s leaders to provide opportunities so employees can learn these new skills. This way, they’ll have a chance to grow professionally and become lifelong learners who are also more engaged in their work. Below, you’ll find some tips on how to accomplish this as a business leader.

Include learning as a performance goal

Employees must have work targets in order to succeed. It guides them on what is expected of them, essentially serving as motivation in the form of objectives to hit. Considering that workers would be focused on this, it would be highly beneficial to include a learning aspect in performance goals. In fact, a survey revealed that 88% of Canadian employees believe that goal setting impacts their job performance. Examples of accomplishments that fall under this category are a license or a certification from platforms like Coursera or Google, proving that they studied and learned how to do a specific skill. By incorporating these into their goals, employees would have something concrete to work towards, and it would also serve as a measure of their growth.

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Provide access to learning resource platforms

Effective leaders invest in the development of their employees, most often in the form of seminars or digital tools, as outlined in our post "How To Stay Ahead of the Curve". Apart from the more common group programs, self-directed learning opportunities have also been proven successful as long as employees have the proper resources. One such platform that provides world-class learning materials is Studocu. Available online, it offers over 20 million educational resources from an active study community across the world. Signing up opens up a selection of higher-education course materials on a variety of topics at different skill levels. This allows employees to easily tailor the study materials to their needs. Employees can also benefit from a platform like Scribd, which hosts millions of eBooks, journals, and audiobooks. Giving your employees access to these avenues equips them with the tools that can help them learn at their own pace and personal style.

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Create social learning opportunities

Although leaders play a huge part in the growth of employees, over 55% of Canadian workers report that they also learn a lot from their peers, as per a recent Canadec survey. This is the social learning theory in practice. Introduced by Canadian-born psychologist Albert Bandura, this theory states that people learn behaviors from interacting with and observing others. It’s highly useful in a workplace setting as employees will typically have a diverse pool of peers to learn from. With this, employees can be more competent and well-rounded as they gain insights by watching others work. Thus, it’s the role of a leader to provide avenues in which employees can engage with one another. On top of encouraging in-person breakout sessions, providing communication platforms such as GSuite and Slack can streamline communication efforts and give employees a tool to learn from their colleagues.

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Recognize employee achievements

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A report from Benefits Canada found that 57% of employees feel that meaningful professional recognition can increase the likelihood of them staying in a role. Similarly, feeling valued by bosses can increase engagement, which is critical for better productivity. That being said, in terms of encouraging lifelong learning, it can be worthwhile to acknowledge when an employee has finished a course or a training program. A service like Qarrot can help you reward employees who contribute to your company in various ways. For instance, you can track and appropriately incentivize an employee who finishes an upskilling course. With an employee recognition program, your employees can be further motivated to continue performing and learning for their roles.

As a leader, it’s important to prioritize the growth of your employees to get the best out of their performance. Follow the tips above to help them engage in lifelong learning. For more ways to strengthen workplace engagement, try Qarrot today. 

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Core values are the guiding principles that define the identity, culture, and purpose of a company. They serve as a compass, directing employees' behaviors, decision-making processes, and interactions with stakeholders. Creating well-defined core values is crucial for aligning the organization, attracting like-minded talent, and fostering a positive work environment.

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In this article, we will explore a step-by-step approach to help you create meaningful core values that resonate with your company's vision and mission.

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Step 1: Define Your Company's Vision and Mission:

Before diving into core values, it's essential to have a clear understanding of your company's vision and mission. The vision represents the long-term aspirations and goals, while the mission outlines the purpose and how the company aims to achieve its vision. These elements provide a solid foundation for developing core values that support and reflect your company's overarching objectives.

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Step 2: Identify Your Company's Beliefs and Principles:

Gather key stakeholders, such as founders, executives, and employees, to engage in a collaborative discussion about the beliefs and principles that define your organization. Ask thought-provoking questions like:

• What values do we hold dear as a company?

• What behaviors and characteristics do we want to encourage and embody?

• What principles guide our decision-making processes?

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Encourage open and honest conversations to ensure diverse perspectives are considered. Aim for consensus and focus on selecting values that are authentic and relevant to your company's culture.

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Related article - Inclusive Communication in the Workplace: Why it Matters and How to Achieve It

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Step 3: Keep It Concise and Memorable:

While it's tempting to create an extensive list of core values, it's important to keep them concise and memorable. Three to five core values are generally sufficient to ensure clarity and ease of understanding for employees and stakeholders. Avoid generic or clichéd statements and strive for specificity and uniqueness that truly differentiate your company.

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Step 4: Make Them Actionable:

Effective core values go beyond mere statements on a website or office walls. They should inspire and guide employees' actions on a daily basis. To make your core values actionable:

• Define observable behaviors associated with each value.

• Provide examples of how these behaviors manifest in various aspects of the organization.

• Integrate core values into performance evaluations, hiring processes, and employee recognition programs.

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Step 5: Communicate and Reinforce:

Communicating core values consistently and regularly is crucial for their successful implementation. Use multiple channels, such as company meetings, newsletters, intranets, and training sessions, to reinforce the importance of core values and share stories that exemplify them in action. Leadership must lead by example, embodying the core values and integrating them into their own decision-making and communication.

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Step 6: Integrate Core Values into Processes:

To truly embed core values into your company culture, integrate them into various aspects of your organization. Incorporate them into recruitment and onboarding processes, performance evaluations, employee recognition programs, and internal communications. Reinforce the values through storytelling, sharing success stories that exemplify the values in action.

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Related article - How to balance workplace culture and employee productivity

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Step 7: Embrace Consistency and Accountability:

Consistency is key to fostering a strong culture based on core values. Leaders and managers must consistently model the values in their behavior and decision-making. Encourage open discussions about the core values and provide regular opportunities for feedback and reflection. Hold employees accountable for upholding the values and address any behaviors that are not aligned with them.

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Conclusion:

Creating core values for your company is a deliberate and collaborative process that sets the foundation for your organization's culture. By aligning core values with your vision, involving employees, and ensuring that the values are actionable and integrated into various processes, you can create a shared sense of purpose and guide your company towards success. Embrace the power of core values as a driving force that shapes behaviors, decision-making, and the overall identity of your organization.

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Reinforce your company culture with a value-based peer recognition program - book a demo with Qarrot!

Early-stage technology startups are known for their fast-paced and dynamic work environments. The drive to innovate, coupled with limited resources, often leads to intense workloads and high-pressure situations. In such an atmosphere, it becomes crucial to recognize and appreciate the efforts of employees who are the backbone of these companies.

Employee recognition programs play a vital role in fostering a positive work culture and motivating teams to achieve their full potential. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of implementing employee recognition programs in early-stage tech startups and highlight some tangible benefits they can bring.

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Fostering a Culture of Appreciation:

By implementing an employee recognition program, early-stage tech startups can foster a culture of appreciation and gratitude. Recognizing and acknowledging the efforts and achievements of employees instills a sense of pride and satisfaction and helps them feel valued. And when employees feel valued, they become more engaged, productive, and committed to the success of the company. This positive cycle leads to increased motivation, which in turn drives innovation and growth.

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Example Benefit: A software development startup launched a peer-to-peer recognition program where employees could nominate their colleagues for outstanding contributions. This led to a significant rise in employee morale and teamwork, with individuals feeling recognized for their hard work and motivated to deliver exceptional results.

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Retaining Top Talent:

Early-stage tech startups face fierce competition in attracting and retaining top talent. Employee recognition programs can serve as a powerful tool to retain valuable employees. Recognizing and acknowledging their achievements not only creates a sense of loyalty but also strengthens their connection to the company's mission and vision. When employees feel appreciated and recognized for their contributions, they are more likely to stay committed to the organization, reducing turnover rates and the associated costs of hiring and training new employees.

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Example Benefit: A data analytics startup implemented an "Employee of the Month" program, showcasing outstanding individuals who had made a notable impact on the company's success. This recognition program not only motivated employees to strive for excellence but also contributed to a lower turnover rate and increased loyalty within the organization.

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Boosting Innovation and Creativity:

Early-stage tech startups thrive on innovation and out-of-the-box thinking. Employee recognition programs can serve as catalysts for creativity and innovation by encouraging employees to take risks and share their innovative ideas without fear of failure. Recognizing and celebrating such contributions not only inspires others but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement. This is especially true for very early-stage startups in which employees wear multiple hats and may be required to work outside of a defined job description.

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Example Benefit: A virtual reality startup introduced a "Bright Ideas" program, encouraging employees to share their innovative concepts for product improvement. The best ideas were recognized and awarded, resulting in a surge of creative suggestions and improved product development processes.

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Enhancing Team Collaboration and Communication:

Strong teamwork and effective communication are vital for the success of any early-stage tech startup. Employee recognition programs can create opportunities for employees to interact, collaborate, and celebrate each other's achievements. Moreover, recognition programs can be designed to foster and reward collaborative efforts. This enhances cross-functional collaboration, strengthens relationships, and improves overall communication within the organization.

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Example Benefit: A mobile app development startup introduced a quarterly team recognition event where employees from different departments were acknowledged for their collaborative efforts and achievements. This not only fostered a stronger sense of unity but also improved interdepartmental communication and coordination.

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Conclusion

While early-stage tech startups face numerous challenges, the implementation of well-designed employee recognition programs should not be overlooked. By fostering a culture of appreciation, such programs have the power to boost employee morale, enhance retention rates, drive innovation, and improve teamwork. By investing in employee recognition, startups lay a solid foundation for long-term success and growth.

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Qarrot provides a cost-effective solution for any size of business. Whether you have 10 employees or thousands, our recognition software lets you design a program based on your business objectives as well as your budget. And with a growing number of integrations, including Slack and Microsoft Teams, it’s easy for just about any company to launch an employee recognition program within days, not weeks or months. Request a demo with Qarrot today!

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The world of work is constantly evolving, and as we move further into 2023, human resources (HR) professionals are facing a range of challenges and opportunities. From the ongoing impact of the pandemic to the rise of new technologies and changing workforce demographics, HR leaders must stay ahead of the curve to effectively support their organizations and employees. In this article, we will explore some of the best practices for HR in 2023.

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1. Prioritize Employee Well-Being

The pandemic has brought employee well-being to the forefront of HR concerns, and this trend is likely to continue in 2023. As organizations return to the office or adopt hybrid work models, HR leaders must prioritize the physical and mental health of their employees.

One best practice for supporting employee well-being is to provide flexible work arrangements. This could include remote work options, flexible scheduling, or job sharing. Additionally, HR professionals can offer mental health resources and support services, such as counseling or employee assistance programs.

Another important aspect of employee well-being is recognizing and addressing burnout. HR leaders can help prevent burnout by setting realistic workloads, providing clear expectations and feedback, and encouraging breaks and time off.

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2. Embrace Digital Transformation

The rapid pace of technological change is driving digital transformation across all areas of business, and HR is no exception. From applicant tracking systems to employee engagement platforms, HR professionals must be familiar with a range of digital tools and platforms to effectively support their organizations.

One best practice for HR in 2023 is to embrace digital transformation by investing in new technologies and upskilling HR staff. By adopting advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, HR leaders can automate routine tasks and improve decision-making processes. Additionally, digital tools can help HR professionals better understand employee needs and preferences, leading to more effective communication and engagement.

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3. Foster Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In recent years, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have become a top priority for many organizations. In 2023, HR professionals must continue to foster DEI in the workplace to attract and retain a diverse and talented workforce.

One best practice for supporting DEI is to establish a clear DEI strategy and set measurable goals. This could include increasing the representation of underrepresented groups in leadership positions or improving the recruitment and retention of diverse candidates.

HR leaders can also foster DEI by offering bias training and creating a culture of inclusivity. Additionally, HR professionals can establish employee resource groups (ERGs) to provide support and networking opportunities for employees from diverse backgrounds.

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4. Improve Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is essential for organizational success, and HR professionals must continue to find ways to improve engagement levels in 2023. This could include providing opportunities for professional development, offering competitive compensation and benefits, or creating a positive workplace culture.

One best practice for improving engagement is to regularly solicit employee feedback and act on it. By listening to employee concerns and suggestions, HR leaders can identify areas for improvement and implement changes that will make a positive impact on employee engagement.

Additionally, HR professionals can create a culture of recognition and appreciation. This could include providing regular feedback, celebrating employee achievements, and offering incentives or rewards for outstanding performance.

In conclusion, HR professionals in 2023 must be prepared to navigate a range of challenges and opportunities. By prioritizing employee well-being, embracing digital transformation, fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, and improving employee engagement, HR leaders can effectively support their organizations and create a culture of success. By staying ahead of the curve, HR professionals can position their organizations for long-term success in the years to come.

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Inclusive communication is a language style that actively acknowledges individuals for who they are and demonstrates respect for people from various backgrounds. It ensures everyone's perspectives are respected and that each employee has access to equal opportunities.

Inclusive communication employs neutral, non-discriminatory, and unbiased language and communication techniques to develop a friendly, polite, and egalitarian environment where people feel appreciated and heard, regardless of their differences.

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What is inclusive communication in the workplace?

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Inclusive communication creates a work environment that feels supportive and genuine. This type of communication helps employees feel at home at their place of work. Companies that prioritize a culture of inclusive communication have a greater chance of success, often surpassing their competition in crucial areas like hiring, employee engagement, employee satisfaction, and business growth. 

Communicating inclusively goes hand in hand with diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The more leadership commits to DEI initiatives, the stronger the culture of inclusive communication will become. 

At the root, inclusive communication is about promoting an atmosphere of respect at work and fostering open communication where employee differences are honored and respected. Workshops on topics like unconscious bias and the harmful impact of prejudice and stereotyping can cut off hurtful communication habits at the source.

Other components that create an intentional culture of inclusion include routinely evaluating and eliminating barriers to inclusivity and actively working to promote a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Businesses prioritizing inclusivity position themselves for long-term success and have happier, more engaged employees.

A variety of inclusive communication modes exist in the workplace, including:

• Non-verbal: Body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice all significantly impact fostering an inclusive work environment.

• Verbal: Potentially the most prevalent method of communication at work.

• Written: All written communication, including emails, memos, and company reports.

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“Isms” that undermine inclusive communication

Communication cannot be inclusive if the work culture allows prejudiced language or hate speech. Here are four common “isms” that actively prevent inclusivity:

• Sexism: Sexist language that degrades or stereotypes an employee based on their gender.

• Ageism: Terminology that singles someone out due to their age.

• Racism: Racially charged language that is insulting or stereotyping.

• Ableism: Stereotypes or insults someone due to their differing abilities.

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Why is inclusive communication important?

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Organizations can build an inclusive, respectful, and equitable workplace culture for all employees by promoting inclusive communication awareness and education. 

Creating a culture of inclusive communication shows the company’s effort to utilize language that contributes to a more equitable world while condemning the misrepresentation and institutional discrimination that plague our workplaces to this day.

Inclusive communication breeds a culture of acceptance and opportunity for all. This triggers a domino effect that can improve productivity, employee engagement, and even customer satisfaction.

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Multiple factors make inclusive communication in the workplace necessary:

• Respect: All people should be treated with respect, regardless of gender, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or ability, as demonstrated by inclusive communication. It produces a friendly and encouraging work environment.

• Diversity: Inclusive language shows a company values diversity within the workforce.

• Legal obligation: Companies are required to provide a work environment free from harassment and discrimination. Inclusive communication is a crucial part of cultivating an equitable company culture. 

• Communication: Everyone can better comprehend one another and collaborate more successfully when speech is free from bias.

• Reputation: Businesses that prioritize inclusive language are more reputable in the eyes of potential employees, investors, and customers.

• Employee engagement: When employees feel valued, metrics like engagement, morale, and productivity improve. 

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How to communicate with inclusivity in 2023

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Here are some actionable ways to make workplace communication more inclusive this year:

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Replace stereotypical and culturally insensitive language with inclusive alternatives

Many expressions commonly used in the workplace are exclusive in nature. Encourage employees to consider what language they use that, while not overtly offensive, does not reflect everyone in the office. People often use slurs without even realizing it. 

Even the most seemingly innocuous words can be rooted in discriminatory language. For example, the word “dumb” is commonly used to reflect someone who isn’t intelligent but is actually defined as someone who cannot communicate verbally. And while commonly used to say someone behaves erratically, the term “spastic” actually references the muscle tightness and contractions resulting from cerebral palsy and/or multiple sclerosis.

Commonly used idioms like “blind leading the blind” and “falling on deaf ears” are also exclusive in nature. 

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Understand employee identities

People's identities are primarily shaped by their race and ethnicity, meaning misidentification can be damaging and invalidating. 

Make an effort to understand and learn whatever race, ethnicity, or national origin employees identify to avoid making assumptions and lumping everyone into one racial group, such as Asian or African. Encourage employees to communicate openly about the language they do not perceive as inclusive.

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Communicate openly about language preferences

Ableist language can indirectly define a person by their disability status and propagate harmful stereotypes.

This is incredibly dangerous, considering the discrepancy between employment rates for people with and without disabilities. In 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 21.3% of people with a disability were employed. That is less than a third of the employment percentage for those without a disability (65.4%). 

Companies can actively combat ableist language by communicating openly about what language employees with disabilities prefer. Some people prefer person-first language like “person with a disability”, while others prefer identify-first language like “disabled person”. Genuine inclusivity means recognizing that not every person perceives language the same way and prioritizes respecting each and every employee’s definition of what is and isn’t inclusive of their identities. 

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How to drive inclusive communication rewards and recognition software

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Building a culture of inclusivity in the workplace is no small feat, but injecting inclusive language into rewards and recognition programs is a good place to start. You can make your organization a hub for inclusive collaboration by standardizing the process of rewarding and recognizing employees. 

Qarrot empowers employees to nominate each other, all while providing managers with advanced insights that weed out any potential biases. Interested in learning more?  Book a demo to see Qarrot in action!

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Employee appreciation is vital. It fosters trust between employees and management, inspires teams to increase productivity, and reduces turnover by ensuring employees feel valued. But inauthentic appreciation accomplishes none of this.

Think about it. If your boss came up to you the day after implementing a new appreciation program and said kind words with behavior and body language that conveyed anything but gratitude, how would you feel? Without authenticity, appreciation can have the opposite effect. 

Showing authentic gratitude doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. In this post, we’re covering 5 simple ways to show your employees authentic appreciation (and why you should).

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Why authentic employee appreciation matters

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A 2022 Gallup report shows that recognition has the most impact when it’s:

• Fulfilling employees’ expectations and needs

• Authentic

• Equitable

• Embedded in the culture

• Personalized

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Despite their demonstrated importance, data shows recognition is lacking in these five areas. Only 23% of employees strongly feel they receive the right amount of recognition for the work they do. One-third of employees strongly feel the recognition they receive is authentic. One quarter feel it is given equitably. 19% feel it is embedded in their company culture, and just 10% report being asked about their preferences for receiving recognition. 

Reports show that employees who receive effective recognition are: 

• 73% less likely to experience burnout “always” or “very often”

• 56% less likely to keep an eye on job boards

• 5 times more likely to feel connected to their company culture

• 4 times as likely to be engaged at work

• 5 times as likely to see a path to growth within the organization

• 4 times as likely to recommend the organization to friends and family

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And, most shockingly, these employees are 44% more likely to report “thriving” in their life overall.

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1. Edible empathy

Food brings people together. Giving employees the go-ahead to group order whatever they want for lunch one day might check that box on paper, but it lacks the empathy component that makes sharing a meal together so powerful. 

Instead, spend time getting to know your employees while scheduling the lunch. Find out what they like. Be considerate of dietary restrictions, whether they’re religious, medical, or simply a choice. 

Pick a location that makes for easy conversation. That could be in a restaurant or in the workspace. In an ideal world, find a round table in a spot quiet enough so that everyone can hear each other, but not so quiet that people will be hesitant to speak freely. 

Once everyone is comfortable, strike up a genuine conversation. It doesn’t have to be wholly centered around work. While this is a good time to discuss what is and isn’t working within the team, chatting with your team about their unique interests and sharing your own nurtures the empathetic connection that affirms the genuineness of the gesture.

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2. Let feedback go both ways  

Your employees need your support just as much as you need theirs. When you sit down to review performance, prompt them to do the same. When you tell them what to improve, ask them what you can do to help them get there. This turns what could be perceived as a scolding session into a productive, two-way conversation. 

Not all employees will feel comfortable sharing honest feedback face-to-face. This could be due to sensitive subject matter or a byproduct of their personality. Create a system for employees to submit anonymous feedback, both on a macro and micro level. Ensuring the system is actually anonymous builds trust between you and your team. 

Giving employees a vehicle to share their thoughts and ideas about the organization’s leadership, opportunities, direction, etc. shows not only that you want their voices to be heard, but also that you value the opinions they share.

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3. Create a culture of appreciation through peer recognition

Peer recognition is almost as important as recognition from leadership. Employees recognized by peers just a few times a year (or less) are 3 times as likely to be actively disengaged, 39% more likely to plan on leaving the organization within one year, and 24% more likely to be struggling. For those recognized just a few times by leadership, the numbers increase to 5 times, 74%, and 27%, respectively. 

When you don’t cultivate a culture of appreciation, the occasional reward or review sticks out like a sore thumb. This is part of the reason why stock appreciation messages don’t land. If words of appreciation and encouragement aren’t heard in the office on a regular basis, they will seem forced. To the ones being recognized, it could feel like you just pressed 5 a bunch of times on a customer service survey. Inauthentic and meaningless. That’s the opposite of what you want. 

Create a culture where recognition from both leadership and peers is the norm, and the words of appreciation will feel natural. If recognition isn’t filling an annual requirement, employees will open their ears and actually absorb what you have to say as truth.

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4. Stay consistent

Fairness is another crucial component of authentic appreciation. When you focus your recognition on one employee and short another with the same performance level, the employee experience takes a big hit. After all, fairness is a basic human need. 

Only 26% of employees report receiving similar amounts of recognition as peers with similar performance levels. This number drops significantly for Black (19%)  and Hispanic (21%) employees. The percentage of employees who report receiving the right amount of recognition and authentic recognition follow the same racial pattern. 

Unless you want unconscious bias to derail your DE&I efforts, repel talent, and hurt BIPOC team members, equity needs to become a serious priority.

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5. Personalize

If the tips were ranked, this one would be near the top. Personalization is vital to showing authentic appreciation. Genuine recognition requires empathy. Managers have to consider what makes their employees feel appreciated as individuals. This won’t be the same for everyone. Some people prefer public recognition, while others prefer to be recognized in private. 

Recognition feels more authentic when it is tied to a clear reason. Some people prefer action-based rewards or spontaneous appreciation in the moment. Spontaneous words of appreciation are easy to personalize– when you observe an employee performing well in the moment, thank them for that specific action either via email or out loud, depending on their privacy preferences. 

Only 10% of employees report being asked how they’d like to be recognized. Asking your employees what will make them feel the most appreciated is the simplest and most effective way to ensure your recognition meets the needs of every individual employee. In doing so, you prioritize equity, combat bias, and improve the effectiveness of your employee appreciation program as a whole. 

29% of surveyed employees report a preference for private recognition, with 7% preferring to be appreciated in public. Then, there’s the middle ground. Many employees are comfortable with receiving technology-mediated recognition visible by all team members, even if they dislike public displays of recognition. 

Some employees place more value on monetary rewards than verbal appreciation. However, monetary rewards alone often miss the mark and appear ingenuine. Rewards should always be paired with a personalized message that resonates with the awardee.

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The impact of authentic employee appreciation 

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Effective recognition doesn’t just improve outcomes within the organization– it has the power to improve your employees’ quality of life outside the office. What’s more authentic than creating a recognition program that helps employees live happier, more fulfilled lives? 

Authentic recognition is even more impactful for Black and Hispanic employees facing racial bias. Black employees who receive authentic recognition are 79% more likely to be thriving, and Hispanic employees fall close behind at 69%. Black employees are also more likely to recommend the organization and see an internal path to growth.

Authentic employee appreciation improves business outcomes, helps employees thrive in and out of work, and promotes equity within the organization. 

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Ready to unleash the power of authentic employee appreciation? Snag our demo or request a free trial to get the ball rolling.

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Gallup estimates that low engagement costs the global economy US$7.8 trillion and accounts for 11% of GDP globally. Gallup’s analysis of 112, 312 business units in 96 countries found a strong link between engagement and performance outcomes, such as retention, productivity, safety and profitability.

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In its Global State of the Workplace: 2022 Report, Gallup makes a compelling case for employee engagement. In fact, the research firm goes so far as to describe employee wellbeing as the new “workplace imperative”. 

Whereas many organizations today measure ESG -  their commitment to improve environmental, social, and governance metrics - the report asks if these same organizations know whether their employees feel respected or cared about. It’s a compelling question and one that is very much on the minds of human capital professionals as they struggle with the effects of poor employee engagement.

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And while the global level of employee engagement was trending more highly until 2019, the pandemic brought about a significant increase in negative emotions felt by workers everywhere. In its report, Gallup reports how workers respond to questions about emotions like stress, worry, and anger to name a few. For example, 44% of workers reported feeling stress “a lot of the day” at work yesterday. Not only are the levels of negative emotions higher since the pandemic compared to previous years, but Gallup found these figures are 46% to 83% higher than for engaged employees

Globally, only 21% of workers are engaged at work. While marginally higher than in 2020, this level should cause employers who aren’t already focused on this issue to seriously reconsider their priorities. Poor engagement costs companies lost revenues, reduces worker productivity, increases involuntary staff turnover, worsens safety, and lowers customer satisfaction.. In fact, Gallup estimates that the aggregate cost to the US economy is $7.8 trillion dollars per year - the equivalent of 11% of GDP.

That is a shocking figure.

Put in simpler terms, the report states that business units with engaged workers have a 23% higher profitability than those with miserable ones. 

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Given the causal relationship of employee engagement on commercial outcomes, Gallup goes on to recommend that executive dashboards include wellbeing metrics in addition to the ESG, financial, commercial, and operational ones already in place. They also propose that wellbeing be part of organizations’ brand promise.

This recommendation isn’t entirely new, however. The business of measuring and tracking employee engagement is now well-established with tools like pulse surveys that aim to regularly gauge workforce sentiment. More sophisticated survey tools go so far as to enable their client organizations to ask specific questions and allow for anonymous comments so that staff can provide feedback about their work environment and manager without the fear of reprisal.

And while wellbeing metrics may not yet feature as prominently as commercial and operational ones in company dashboards, there is a growing body of evidence that leaders are paying attention. The sheer growth of employee engagement practices, tools, and solution vendors is proof of this.

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But what should organizations do once they uncover poor engagement amongst their ranks?

The Gallup report isn’t prescriptive. But from the larger body of research done by the firm, it does mention the strong correlation between the caliber of their people leaders and the engagement levels of their employees.

Likewise, it outlines the most common causes for burnout, which not surprisingly also have much to do with people leaders. For example, themes such as “unfair treatment at work”, an “unmanageable workload”, “unclear communication from managers”, and a ‘lack of manager support” are amongst the top reasons cited by employees who experience burnout.

In that regard, the report does emphasize the importance of people leaders and managers as being at the core of a thriving workplace. And it proposes that successful managers are skilled at being coaches, listeners, and collaborators, amongst their other trademark roles and responsibilities.

This is a compelling vision for the next generation of people leaders and managers, who will find themselves responsible for an increasingly hybrid workforce. One which will be more geographically diverse in many cases as well.

In this regard, we believe it important to consider the tools that people leaders and managers will require to be better in the areas that Gallup identifies - whether or not staff are working in the same office location, at a coworking space in another city, or their living room halfway across the world.

And while team messaging, collaboration, and video conferencing tools have become commonplace in most organizations, they often lack some of the components that leaders and managers need to foster a strong organizational culture and the feeling - as an employee - of being appreciated. 

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This is where recognition programs can be of help.

Recognition programs provide the ability for managers and, often regular employees, to easily express their appreciation for a job well done. Programs of this kind also often emphasize the organization’s core values and put them at the center of the recognition process.

The mere act of recognizing a direct report or a coworker can have a significant impact on their sense of feeling appreciated and respected within their work environment. Moreover, programs can target other critical and highly desired behaviors, such as collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and teamwork. 

And like many of the tools that are now commonly used by geographically distributed teams, recognition programs like Qarrot are available as web and mobile applications so that workers can send and receive kudos regardless of their location or proximity to their coworkers.

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Learn more about how Qarrot can help your organization improve employee engagement.

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How do you define productivity? Do you look at the hours worked, the effort expended, and the exhaustion incurred? Or do you look at results? If you’re in the first camp, you might be measuring productivity all wrong. 

Prioritizing output has long been the traditional way of gauging employee productivity. But think about it this way: is the most effective person on your team the one who takes eight hours to complete a project…or the one who can bring about the same or superior results in half the time?

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Don’t despair if you’re late to the “outcomes over output” party–but keep reading for a way of assessing employee effectiveness that’ll change your company for the better.

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Burnout culture is on its way out

We’ve all been in careers where we felt a certain pressure to appear dog-tired from all the work we put in. 

Late nights and early mornings were glorified, and coming in on our days off was a badge of honor. These were habits we adopted to show our bosses that we’d work ourselves to the bone to hit company goals. We were expected to be grateful for the opportunity to wear ourselves down in exchange for a paycheck.

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But there’s a major cultural shift taking place, one that places employee wellness and satisfaction above burnout. 

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A record number of American workers left their jobs in November 2021–4.5 million, to be exact. These employees weren’t leaving the workforce; they were breaking up with their employers. And with 11.3 million positions waiting to be filled across the U.S., the unhappy and overworked have plenty of options at their disposal.

Long gone are the days when employees had to take whatever job they could find. And companies who want to minimize turnover and avoid staffing shortages would be wise to change how they gauge productivity.

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A new take on an old concept

When we talk about prioritizing outcomes over output, we mean shifting the focus away from individual behaviors and onto specific results. In other words, as long as the job gets done and gets done well, your employees have fulfilled their obligations.

To put this into perspective, consider your own company work model, and ask yourself which components are necessary and which aren’t.

Do your employees really need to report at 9:00 am on the dot and remain glued to their computers for five hours before their first break? Or does that rule exist because that’s how it’s always been done? If an employee knocks out all of the day’s tasks by lunchtime, why are they beholden to run up the clock all afternoon?

The purpose of growing your team is to see improved results, whether it be to increase revenue, secure new clients, or expand your audience. None of these things requires a workaholic mindset to come to fruition, yet all of them can still be achieved when you move away from output-oriented culture.

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How this shift in priorities helps your bottom line

Transforming your company in this way requires effort, and it won’t be easy to get everyone on board. You may even have doubts yourself. But when you consider the far-reaching benefits, both in the short and long terms, it’s hard to argue against redefining how you measure productivity.

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Reduced sick days

Absenteeism is the bane of any employer’s existence. Employees calling in sick, using PTO at inconvenient times, or not showing up at all can throw a major wrench in your operations. 

If your staff has more control over when and how work gets completed, however, they won’t need to request time off nearly as much. Not only does this ensure that high-priority tasks are tended to on time, but it also means less revenue lost to employee absence.

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Lower turnover rates

People stay where they’re happy, plain and simple. An employee with zero downtime, poor work-life balance, and a sense that the big bosses are always breathing down their neck is more likely to jump ship than the employee whose time and autonomy are honored.

We’re seeing this exact dynamic play out across the labor market, with workers ditching low-satisfaction jobs for positions that respect these employees’ inherent value. You want your company to be the one they’re running to, not from.

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Enhanced productivity

Counterintuitive though it may seem, prioritizing outcomes over output can actually boost productivity.

The reasoning behind this is almost too simple: when you measure productivity by results realized, you’re looking for efficiency. The most efficient employee, therefore, isn’t the one who takes all day to get back to a top client. It’s the one who calls the client and makes the sale right away. But if your staff knows they’ll be at work for eight hours no matter how well they manage their time, what incentive do they have to work harder?

By adjusting your focus, you also adjust how your employees approach their job functions as a whole, giving them a reason to get you those results faster.

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How to change your productivity metrics

If you’re convinced that this culture shift is in your company’s best interest, you need to take concrete steps toward reconstructing how you measure productivity. Here are a few to get you started:

• Cut out busywork. Your employees should only perform work that’s directly linked to the company’s goals.

• Be clear about results. Your staff can’t hit a target they can’t see. Let your employees know exactly what results you expect to see from the work they do, and be as specific as possible. “Increase revenue” isn’t nearly as helpful as “increase sales by 10%.”

• Share timelines. It’s perfectly okay to give your employees deadlines, and in fact, it’s necessary. Setting a target date for when those aforementioned results should be achieved will only help your staff to manage their time appropriately and effectively.

• Loosen the reins. You’ve simplified job duties, communicated goals, and implemented timelines. Now, trust your team to get it done.

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Conclusion

Defining productivity by outcomes over output may feel foreign, but it’s one of the best ways to maximize efficiency and improve employee satisfaction. Particularly in the age of remote work and employee empowerment, can you really afford not to make this shift?

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Unresolved workplace issues disrupt employees’ workflow. A study on team conflict published by the Global Transitions Proceedings found that team climate and cohesion are directly linked to the outcome of a project. Thus, a positive climate and relationship among employees greatly improves the quality of their work. As such, whenever there are workplace issues, business owners must do their best to resolve them.

If you’re unsure how to start, take our guide on the right approach to solving workplace issues:

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Diagnose the problem

The first step is to identify the root cause of the conflict. For some business owners, it’s convenient to suggest team-building activities to resolve conflict. However, generic band-aid solutions like this do not actually target the problem at hand.

For instance, Senior Vice President of global leadership solutions for LHH, Alex Vincent, shares his company experience when a team of the best employees was underperforming. While the CIO wanted Vincent to do anything and everything to solve the problem, he opted to talk to each team member. Doing this, he found out that the underperformance was caused by one member who did well alone but lacked in team settings. Thus, Vincent recommended that the CIO address that individual instead of the whole team. As a result, the team improved and performed better. Without this diagnosis, the cause of conflict wouldn’t have been identified and given a resolution.
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Acknowledge everyone’s perspective

Conflict is between two or more parties. They will have different perspectives regarding the problem, which is why you should hear everyone’s thoughts regarding the situation.

Abdul Omar, a worker at the Office of the Ombudsman in Hawaii, says that the difference in perceptions is actually the cause of conflict. When you talk to all the parties involved, you start to see how their behaviors are causing the issue — not their personality traits. For example, an employee can be perceived as incompetent by others when they’re slow to finish tasks. It’s better to address the employee and ask if there are things going on in their personal life. When employees’ perceptions are acknowledged, business owners think of better solutions that would satisfy each of the involved employee’s situations.
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Brainstorm workable solutions

Now that the problem has been identified and everyone’s perceptions have been understood, possible solutions can be formulated. It is in this stage that it is crucial to practice empathy, as mentioned in our post ‘Why and How to Cultivate Empathy in Your Organization’. Empathy allows you to relate to others, thus creating the best possible solutions for them.

Keep in mind what you’ve gathered from the diagnosis and employees’ perceptions. For example, an employee that does not participate in meetings is perceived as apathetic. Upon talking to the employee, you find out it is because they aren’t given chances to talk. As a result, a solution you can come up with to satisfy all parties and address the actual problem is to extend the meeting duration. This way, the “apathetic” employee is given the opportunity to talk, others won’t perceive them as such, and there won’t be a repeat of the problem.
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Implement and monitor the solution

After formulating a solution that benefits everyone, it’s time for implementation. Inform the involved parties of your proposed solution and what each of them should do in order to achieve the desired outcome.

However, resolving conflict does not stop at solution implementation. As the person running the business, you should see to it that your solution is making progress. Monitor how the people involved are reacting or changing their behavior in accordance with your suggestions. If there is no progress or the situation worsens, it’s best to step in and redo some steps like brainstorming workable solutions.

Unresolved workplace conflict will affect your employees’ performance and your business as a whole. Thus, you should take measures in order to resolve them as soon as possible.