In this quick, Culture Snapshot episode, we’re kicking off our season-long deep dive into ENGAGE 2024: The Company Culture Report by pointing out some of this year’s need-to-know findings.
That is, on the other side of this episode, you’ll have a bird' s-eye view of the many ways in which people are currently feeling about the experience of working at their organization.
Employee Engagement: Fueling Your Company Campfire
Here at Up Your Culture, we like to use a particular analogy to demonstrate the varying levels of engagement that occur in the workplace: a campfire.
Take a second to imagine your company campfire. Here’s who would be surrounding that fire and the actions they would be taking:
- Engaged employees actively contribute (stoking the fire)
- Unengaged employees are passive (lounging by the fire)
- Disengaged employees actively hinder progress (throwing water on the fire)
ENGAGED 2024: The Company Culture Report found that only 55% of employees are currently engaged, highlighting a significant need for improvement.
Disengagement is Contagious and Expensive
Disengaged employees not only hurt their own productivity but also bring down the morale of others. A shocking 86% of respondents report working with disengaged colleagues.
“Imagine working really hard to build a fire. You put logs on that fire, and other people are dousing the flames,” Beth says in the episode. That would probably decrease your energy for all the work you're doing. I find it really concerning that 86% of our respondents work side by side with people who are not just checked out but actively disengaged.
“[Those who are disengaged] are working against the organization's good. Imagine how that can reduce energy, morale, and productivity.”
This finding highlights the importance of fostering a positive culture to retain top talent. Turnover is expensive, and the report reveals that nearly half (47%) of those surveyed considered leaving their jobs recently.
Good News: Most Employees Find Purpose in Their Work
Despite the disengagement issues, there's a positive takeaway. 90% of respondents reported finding purpose in their work.
“I find that so very reassuring,” Beth says. “What this tells me is that the vast majority of people are doing work that they find meaningful. So, if their companies make an effort to improve their culture and create an environment that also feels meaningful, it probably won't take much for those people to start feeling more inspired and more engaged.”
Some Key Takeaways from This Episode:
- Most employees find purpose in their work, but companies need to improve culture to boost overall engagement.
- The Four Engagement Elevators (Shared Mission, People Development, Valued Voice, Earned Trust) are crucial for building a thriving company culture.
- Leaders must be consistent with company values and prioritize employee development and communication to build trust and engagement.
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