Employee engagement has been a source of discussion in the business world for many years. However, it is only recently that organisations have begun to take it more seriously and try to figure out how to improve employee engagement.
Employee engagement is how employees feel about their work and workplace. It’s the level of commitment, motivation, and passion employees have for their jobs and company.
At its core, employee engagement is about your culture. It’s not a “perk” you add onto benefits — it’s the environment you create through your company values, mission, and everyday actions.
Employees are more engaged when they enjoy their work environment, have a sense of purpose at work, and feel valued and recognised by their teammates and managers. And in turn, highly engaged teams are more productive teams.
Engaged employees feel a sense of purpose at work that creates extra energy and commitment — engagement is also directly tied to well-being. When employees enjoy their work and feel like they have a sense of ownership over their role, they tend to be happier, healthier, and more productive overall.
Ways to Reward Employees
Employee engagement is a vital part of any employee rewards program. Strengthening your company’s employee engagement program can help you keep your best employees and attract new talent, improve productivity, and ultimately lead to higher profits. Here are some of the most effective ways to reward employees in order to increase employee engagement:
- Celebrate daily wins. Even small achievements deserve recognition and praise. Celebrate big wins too, but don’t wait for them! Recognising the smaller, everyday tasks will boost morale and help employees feel appreciated all the time — not just on special occasions.
- Give frequent feedback. Feedback should be a two-way street. Employees want regular feedback on how they’re doing and where they can improve, so managers shouldn't hold back! Provide helpful input that focuses on specific actions and behaviors and encourages improvement.
- Offer team rewards programs. Rewards programs can encourage collaboration between employees by offering rewards that benefit an entire team rather than just one individual.
- Recognise employee milestones. Employee milestone celebrations aren't just for birthdays or work anniversaries — recognise any milestone your employees reach! Did someone hit a career goal or complete a training program? Did someone get promoted or win an award?
There are many ways to reward your employees, from a simple verbal thank you to larger, more formal employee recognition programs. The most important thing is to make sure your employees feel appreciated and valued in their roles.
