Employee Engagement Trends in 2021

Today, in all types of organisations, employers are not just looking for hiring candidates, but are also
building an well thought-out strategy in keeping them engaged with their work through different
means. The current changing/challenging times caused due to the pandemic, and the resulting
remote working culture bring in different trends for employees to engage with their work in a
fruitful manner.

In this blog, we are discussing the various employee engagement trends in 2021.

Employee Engagement – Definition

Employee engagement is a fundamental concept in the effort to understand and describe, both
qualitatively and quantitatively, the nature of the relationship between an organisation and its
employees.

Here are the 7 employee engagement trends in 2021:

1. People-first culture

At the heart of any business, is its people who keep the wheels running. Hence, organisations
worldwide adopt various means and methods to sustain their best talent. People first culture
accelerates this notion. By keeping to the people-first culture, the organisations can invest in
transparent communication across all levels.
A people first culture also emphasizes the overall employee experience: taking consistent feedback,
good clarity on their performance goals, and above all, aligning employee’s efforts with the overall
organisational goals for business success.

2. Mental health wellness

Since the Covid-19, the mental health wellness of the employees has become even more crucial.
Detached from the office space and colleagues, the pandemic has placed the employees in an
unusual work setting. Employers worldwide are increasingly focusing on being empathetic to avoid
the obstacles that arise through virtual communication.
Conducting webinars on mental health awareness, sharing tips on managing anxiety, reminding
employees of the benefits of a healthy routine are some of the ways through which organizations
can keep a check on their remote workforce’s mental health.

You may be interested in: Health tips for busy executives

3. Work-life balance

Before the pandemic, there was a clear distinction of working hours, however, due to the remote
work phenomenon, there exists a lack of a definite time to log off from work. This has resulted in
employees putting in extra hours, affecting their work-life balance.
Wherever possible, employers need to allow for flexible working hours, and encourage proper
planning for managing their employee’s time with work and leisure activities.

4. Increased Employee Benefits

Employee benefits are the perks that are offered to the workforce apart from the salary, which
typically include insurance, working hours, and financial security.
Globally, companies provide such benefits based on their laws in their respective countries. By
investing in various benefits such as skill development, mobility in working, and extra leaves,
companies are not only focusing on the increased productivity of their employees but also for their
future.

You May Be Interested In: Team Collaboration Tools for Remote Employees

5. Diversity and Inclusion

A diverse and inclusive workplace is one that goes beyond the representation of genders and
nationalities. It is also about their integration and diverse opinions in the workplace which enhances
the culture of the organization.

According to a Medium article (The Top 5 Diversity Workplace Statistics) shows the benefits of diversity include higher revenue, more innovation, better decision making, higher rates of job acceptance when you make offers to qualified candidates, and better performance than competitors.

Formulating an inclusive HR policy, establishing a sense of belonging for all, and creating initiatives
that promote inclusion are some of the ways through which organizations can foster diversity and
inclusion at the workplace.

6. Professional Development

Professional development is a win-win situation for both, organizations as well as employees. By
investing in the development, employees get to enhance their skill set, whereas organizations have a
ready, competitive workforce.
Today, plenty of opportunities exist through online platforms such as Udemy and Coursera,
providing certifications that are relevant to their existing roles, massive open online courses, or
popularly known as MOOCs, for organizations to choose from.

Mentoring your employees, providing them with informational resources, and investing in not just
enhancing their technical skillset but also the soft skills are some of the major employee
engagement trends.

7. Culture of Recognition

One of the biggest motivators for employees still remains an appreciation by their peers. By
recognizing good work, their morale is boosted and their motivation to perform better increases.
A recognition culture not necessarily entails fancy award ceremonies and promotions, it can also
include a genuine appreciation for someone’s work. It also leads to a higher employee retention
rate.

Conducting Employee Appreciation days, setting up an Employee Recognition wall and gifting
company branded gifts such as T-shirts or mugs are some of the small, but significant ways of
boosting a culture of recognition.

If you are looking to professionally manage your technical talent sourcing and recruitment, you may
count on us. Please free to reach out.

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