The 2023 Employee Engagement Trends Report - 5 human-centered strategies to build strong, resilient teams
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The 2023 Employee
Engagement Trends Report
5 human-centered strategies to
build strong, resilient teams
This report is presented by
Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
Contents
Foreword by Brigette Hyacinth 4
Introduction 6
#1 Treat managers like they matter, because they do 8
#2 Focus on employee wellbeing as the heart of engagement 11
#3 Don’t let employees drift into disengagement 14
#4 Use recognition as a hidden power 18
#5 Stay agile to absorb change 22
Climb the engagement summit: together 25
2 3
Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
Navigating through change This report discusses five key
strategies that will help to counteract
in 2023 and beyond employee disengagement. It provides
valuable insights, practical tips The upcoming year will
and resources that HR leaders can
For the past few years, HR leaders I am Brigette immediately incorporate into their day-
undoubtedly present
have been tested in unprecedented Hyacinth, an to-day practices. new challenges for
ways. We’ve had to focus on resolving international
Let’s face it, no one joins a company HR professionals,
keynote speaker,
numerous challenges ranging from
bestselling author
Brigette Hyacinth, and thinks, “I will give the bare but not all hope is lost.
the abrupt shift to remote work to an international HR and
minimum.” Disengagement is caused
onslaught of mass resignations. We’ve and thought Leadership thought leader
by a combination of factors, but at the As companies continue to rely heavily
leader on HR,
struggled. We’ve adapted. As Reward heart of it lies a manager’s relationship
leadership and digital transformation. on HR as a strategic partner to tackle
Gateway has aptly said, 2022 has been with their employees. Managers account challenges, it’s important to adapt to
For over 15 years, I have been advising
the year of “The Great Adjustment,” for 70% of the variance in employee successfully drive change and add
HR leaders from all over the globe on
and as we head into yet another year engagement. As described in this report, business value. We’ll see many of these
how to unlock creative potential and
of unknowns, we’re being faced with increase productivity, while improving the
the recipe for engagement includes trends listed in this report continue to take
a set of new challenges, such as quiet employee experience and wellbeing. I have
many key ingredients and, if diligently precedence and evolve as organizations
quitting. But what does that really applied, can lead to success. It’s time for hone in on employee experience.
been ranked in the Top 100 HR Influencers
mean, and how do employers face this managers – and employers as a whole –
for the last 5 years consecutively. Most This report discusses five key strategies
amid a wave of other challenges? to use the human-to-human approach.
of my career has been dedicated to that will help to counteract employee
putting the “human” back into human Take the time to listen. Get to know your disengagement. It provides valuable
“I was a quiet quitter until I became an
resources. It’s a joy to see leaders I employees, meet them where they are insights, practical tips and resources that
actual quitter,” someone emailed me,
have worked with adopting a human- and be flexible. Show that you care. We HR leaders can immediately incorporate
asking to share her story anonymously
centric approach in their organizations. need to be respecting employees and their into their day-to-day practices.
on social media. As she chronicled
her transition, her decision was not experiences. Your employees are your
It’s an absolute win-win situation.
instantaneous but a cumulative effect most valuable asset. Don’t take them for
In this research conducted by Reward granted or treat them poorly. Remember In everything we do, the “human
deeply rooted in management issues.
Gateway, we can see that 24% of global that loyalty is indeed a two-way street. touch” makes the difference.
The world of work has changed employees reported they are no longer Sometimes it’s the little things we
dramatically in recent years and will going above and beyond their specific do that count the most. It doesn’t
continue to evolve, and as HR leaders it’s responsibilities and/or schedule. This cost much to show employees that
critical to keep our employees engaged statistic is alarming and quite concerning you genuinely care, but it can make
and understand how best to adapt to and makes it clear that we need to do the biggest difference in keeping
new landscapes as they come our way. what’s within our control to flip the them loyal, happy and engaged.
switch from disengaged to engaged.
4 5
Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
How top companies are engaging talent
In the face of today’s ensemble cast of workplace challenges, it’s hard to know where
to begin. This report by Reward Gateway’s employee engagement experts can help.
Based on years of listening to employees and helping HR leaders build winning teams,
Introduction our team distils our latest survey results into five easy-to-apply but powerful strategies
focused on boosting engagement – strategies that can catalyze massive changes in
Talent planning amid chaos engagement and create a stronger, more passionate and committed workforce.
Seizing opportunity for HR But if Reward Gateway’s bi-annual
Meet our experts:
survey of global employees is any
leaders amid a constant indication, now’s not the time to back
avalanche of change away from the challenge. On the contrary
– your employees need you to step up,
Attracting, retaining and engaging
and this report will show you how.
Rob Boland Alexandra
employees in your mission has never Our employee engagement experts have Chief Operating Powell
been easy, but today’s workplace synthesized the results of our survey Officer, Reward Director of Client
hurdles and global issues are of over 3,000 employees throughout Gateway Cultural Insights,
compounding the strain. Rising the U.S., UK and Australia, and gleaned Reward Gateway
Rob has more
inflation. The great resignation. invaluable insight for HR leaders to boost
than 20 years of experience across Alexandra is a highly experienced
Intense competition for talent. engagement in this volatile environment.
a range of high-growth businesses employee engagement consultant,
The post-pandemic remote and
And if we can draw one conclusion and industries, including leadership trainer and speaker. For over 20
distributed work environment. roles at Virgin, Amazon and Reward
from our findings, it’s this: Thriving years she has helped HR and
Employees struggling with physical, in this new world of work demands Gateway. An expert in technology, business leaders implement
mental and financial wellbeing. Even a different way of thinking about specifically private-equity-owned strategies that drive true culture
your top ambassadors are having our responsibilities as HR leaders. technology businesses, Rob has change. Her wealth of knowledge
a tough time cheerleading amid extensive experience in scaling comes from coaching and training
It will take an utterly new approach
morale issues and disengagement. business operations and efficiency thousands of managers from a wide
to employee engagement: a radically
and co-leading the successful sale of range of industries across the globe.
In today’s environment, building a strong human-centered and practical approach
several businesses.
and engaged workforce can seem like a that supports people in ways we never
distant summit only reachable along a imagined possible even a few years ago.
path strewn with hazards. It can be easy
to give up on adequate preparation for
The easy-to-implement strategies you’ll
the journey ahead – through long-term HR
discover in this report will help you stop
planning – and just remain in ready mode.
current issues in your workplace from
snowballing, gathering momentum
and triggering an avalanche.
6 7
Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
Strategies for 2023 1 2 3 4 5
#1 Treat managers like they
matter, because they do of global employees
say feeling listened
For years now, our research has
shown that, after fair pay, the
89% to by leadership is
important to their
top employee “must have” is
wellbeing at work.
a manager who cares. And for
#1
the vast majority of employees,
feeling heard by leadership is Top global employee
important to wellbeing at work. “must haves”
Treat managers
Being seen and heard – simple, human
needs that should be easy to fulfil – so
often get overlooked in the crush of
everyday tasks and stresses. But focusing
like they matter, on these fundamental needs can be an
elegant, human-centered solution to
create a super-powered workforce. 67% 56%
because they do
Fair pay A manager
How can you establish and strengthen
who cares
direct employer-employee connections
to ensure staff is heard, engaged, and
contributing to a thriving business?
At Reward Gateway, we recommend
starting with an awareness of how
engaged employees really are. We’ve
created a simplified but useful employee “The very backbone of your company,
engagement quadrant that describes managers drive success by steering,
the four main types of employees. empowering and listening to
employees, all while maintaining
that vital connection to leadership
and vision. It’s critical for companies
to support that cornerstone role.”
Rob Boland
8 9
Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
Quadrant of Employee Engagement
Strategies for 2023 1 2 3 4 5
#2
Focus on employee
The spectrum of engagement from detractors to ambassadors can be wide
wellbeing as the
indeed. The good news is that leaders have it in their power to move people
within quadrants, positively influencing detractors and stayers, and helping
grow go-getter loyalty to create a workforce strong on ambassadors.
heart of engagement
Managers can become invaluable links in the engagement chain
by communicating and connecting employees’ roles back to the
organization’s mission, listening and keeping the pulse of the
front line, and through impactful, relevant people programs.
10 11
Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
#2 Focus on employee
Of global employees: The 4 Tenets
wellbeing as the heart “Support, connection, communication and recognition
of Employee
of engagement are effective, sustainable and affordable levers that work
together to boost workplace wellbeing and productivity.”
Wellbeing
Up until very recently, wellbeing benefits
were nice-to-haves that only very Alexandra Powell
people-focused companies offered.
Even then, the benefits remained fairly
31% 1
surface-level, like wellness seminars or say the largest negative impact Of global employees:
a gym membership. But in a very short over the past few years has Support
period of time, with the confluence of so been on their wellbeing
many emotional, physical and financial
health challenges, wellbeing has gone 2
from a cool sideline to what should be
the very core of an HR department’s
43% 42% 43%
Connection
people strategy, and a fundamental rate their rate their rate their
focus for business leaders everywhere. employer’s employer’s employer’s
Over half
frequently experience
mental
wellbeing
physical
wellbeing
financial
wellbeing
3
stress at work support as support as support as
good or good or good or Communication
excellent excellent excellent
“Wellbeing has leveled up. And if
you don’t pay attention to it, you Despite the prominent need for workplace wellbeing,
4
won’t get the staff loyalty you need it’s clear there is glaring room for improvement. With
Reward &
to thrive as an organization.”
Over 4 in 5 so few employees feeling they have the support they
Alexandra Powell need at work, HR leaders can help their company stand Recognition
say workplace burnout has
out from the crowd by offering excellent and relevant
an impact on their overall
physical, emotional and financial wellbeing support.
mental health and wellbeing Learn more:
rg.co/employeeburnout
Offering comprehensive workplace wellbeing
support not only makes wellbeing more
People are at the core of everything we do at SACU – we all work convenient and affordable, it also serves to
hard and help each other along the way to make an impact on the normalize and destigmatize accessing this support.
larger community. [We work] with Reward Gateway to become a more
transparent, collaborative and family-oriented organization to benefit both
In the pandemic aftermath of stress, burnout and financial
our employees and our members and to transform our company culture.
strain, any amount of wellness help, advice and practice,
Stefany Chadbon-Hooke, Vice President of Human such as free resources or benefits that strengthen the
Resources at SafeAmerica Credit Union. pillars of wellbeing, can only help unravel these complex
and often interconnected challenges to help develop
12
a stronger, happier and more resilient workforce. 13
Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
#3 Don’t let employees
Strategies for 2023 1 2 3 4 5
drift into disengagement
What’s the impact of unchecked
and untreated people challenges?
In short: disengagement.
Employees are forgetting why they
come to work, or why they even took
the job in the first place. While this
apathy can foreshadow a resignation,
#3
it can also evolve into quiet quitting, in
which employees stop bringing their
creative and intellectual best, and most
certainly do not go above and beyond.
Don’t let For some employees, disengagement
serves as a wake-up call to recalibrate for
balance, maybe through a job change,
employees drift into
a holiday or a leave of absence.
But for the most part, it’s possible for
leaders to re-engage staff who are
disengagement simply drifting. Missing this opportunity 1 in 5
risks higher attrition and employees U.S. employees report they
stepping away from important tasks, are no longer going above
both of which can cause more work for and beyond their specific
colleagues, catalyze a burnout domino responsibilities and/or schedule.
effect and lead to a productivity drop.
“Like reigniting a stagnant relationship, sometimes you just need to go back and
remind employees why they loved their jobs in the first place. Talk to them about
how their talent and energy fuels your organization’s values and mission, and
how that tough day at work was just a hurdle on their way to a higher purpose.”
Rob Boland
14 15
Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
“Employers need to look at the road that leads to quiet quitting and How your employees
how they can move their people into actively engaging.” may be feeling Antidotes to these negative emotions
Rob Boland right now
Offer ongoing positive feedback, recognition
Underappreciated and rewards to make sure employees know
The four Rs to re-engage your workforce their contributions are appreciated.
Moving your quiet quitters into a better quadrant
Ensure jobs continue to interest and
Undervalued challenge employees, and that they receive
proper compensation as roles evolve.
Revive Recharge
Ask your employees why they loved In every work environment, but especially Regularly communicate to employees how their
Disconnected talents and contributions matter to the business.
this job enough to accept it. We all, of in high-stress professions, lightening the
course, need a paycheck. But your staff atmosphere can help employees take a
likely had a choice, and your recruiters step back and enjoy their work life more. Listen, embrace and respond to ambitious
probably inspired the heck out of them Relaxing enhances creativity. Think employees who suggest new ways of
while closing the deal. It’s worth it to about it: how many great work-related Ignored working or seek a promotion or raise: you’re
pause regularly to go back to basics, to ideas come when we’re not at work or cultivating future ambassadors and leaders.
communicate your journey and mission in front of a computer? It’s important
as an organization, and to make sure for managers to let employees carve Provide wellbeing support and encourage
your team members know why and how out their creative time and to take the face-to-face collaboration and social
they’re a critical part of that success. lead in reminding their teams that work Isolated interaction among employees to battle
doesn’t always have to be serious. the disconnection and detachment caused
by modern work environments.
Remind Recognize
In the crush of everyday deadlines, it’s We can’t forget the fourth, arguably
easy to forget what work provides. Besides most important “R”: Recognize. Our
reminding employees of all the benefits and surveys have shown time and time
supports available (which you hopefully again that thanking and rewarding Making sure we have the best possible tools in place to effectively
have!) it’s also important to elevate work employees for their hard work is communicate with our teams is really important, especially as the
beyond the paycheck. Your workplace absolutely fundamental to engagement, majority of our staff are based in our homes and work shifts. We are
is a rich community of like-minded which is why we’ve devoted the embracing the digital age, to ensure staff can quickly and easily find
professionals with interesting challenges whole next section to recognition. out about what’s happening in the business and share information.
and ample opportunities for advancement – Jayne Hennessey, Head of Human
a place that will let them grow as a person, Resources at Borough Care
evolve as a professional and develop
relationships with friends and colleagues
– but only when they see it that way.
16 17
Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
#4 Use recognition
Strategies for 2023 1 2 3 4 5
as a hidden power
“Why am I even doing this?” It’s
easy for employees to feel lost at
work when they’re not recognized
or even thanked for their work,
whether outstanding or simply the
day-to-day, nose-to-the-grindstone
output. This futility can lead to stress
and – left unchecked – burnout.
In 2020, an estimated 76 million cases
of anxiety and 53 million cases of
#4
major depressive disorder across the
globe were attributed directly to the
pandemic.1 There’s a scientific basis
Use recognition as
for this suffering. Isolation and lifestyle
changes have actually altered the brain
chemistry of people around the world,
causing drops in dopamine, serotonin
a hidden power
and oxytocin levels. And that same
biochemistry provides the foundation
for simple interventions that can strike
at the heart of these issues, including
recognition, purpose and connection. 66%
of U.S. employees agree
their work wellbeing
would improve if they
were simply thanked
“Recognizing employees and
more for their hard work.
peers for good work is not
just about being nice. It’s
about being restorative.”
Alexandra Powell
18 1
The Lancet, 2021, https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(21)02143-7/abstract 19Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
The link between workplace stress and recognition
We have over 1,200 employees who represent multiple generations and
work in a wide variety of locations and environments – from nursing to
Of the employees that frequently Of the employees that frequently dining to maintenance and operations. We know that consistent and
experience stress at work experience burnout at work timely recognition is a powerful driver of employee engagement for our
entire workforce. This positively impacts retention and our ability to
provide a high level of care and support to our residents and their families.
Nadim Abi-Antoun, Chief Operating
74% 47% 66% 39% Officer at Presbyterian Homes.
Rate recognition Rate recognition Rate recognition Rate recognition A full 60% of US employees want their
as poor as good or as poor as good or employer to increase their investment in
excellent excellent employee reward and recognition. This
can include providing simple ways to:
• Reward employees for
Science-based strategies that boost employee wellbeing their contributions
Our people feel empowered
• Send thanks or kudos to employees
to recognize and reward
and colleagues for great work
others across departments
• Encourage fun or work-related and everybody – from
competitions and challenges frontline employees to
our leadership team – is
• Acknowledge and encourage
bought into it. People not
expected behaviors at work,
only know that recognition
Recognize Help employees see Encourage such as following important
makes others feel good, it’s
safety protocols
employees for the purpose of their positive connection also helping to improve our
good work work and feel valued with others And why not? For relatively low output, business results because our
investments in reward and recognition people are more connected,
pay off, resulting in surprisingly high more valued and know
Feelings of competence boosts in workplace wellbeing and that their work is making a
Feelings of autonomy Interactions involving difference. There is power in
and mastery mitigating negative feelings before
and self-motivation trust and kindness release listening to and recognizing
release dopamine, they grow into problems or crises.
release serotonin, a oxytocin, a hormone your people.
a neurotransmitter
neurotransmitter that involved in bonding
that triggers pleasure Sheri Treu, Director of
regulates mood. and social learning.
and motivation. Organizational Development
at ORBIS Corporation
20 21Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
#5 Stay agile to absorb change
Strategies for 2023 1 2 3 4 5
Despite the urgent need to attract, retain and engage employees,
many factors – from inflation to budget cuts to competition
for talent – are interfering with long-term planning.
When planners are faced with so many unknowns and blind spots, agility can be a
powerful tool. But only 28% of US HR leaders say their employee engagement strategy
allows them to adapt extremely quickly to the needs of employees as they change.
7 factors HR leaders say are interfering
with long-term strategic planning:
#5 29% 32%
Stay agile to
Inflationary A reduced HR
pressures department
31% 29%
absorb change
Competing Executive
priorities buy-in
31% 29% 29%
The pandemic A lack of budget
Not knowing
how to plan
“A flexible and multi-faceted HR engagement tool can
grow with your needs, boosting system ROI while reducing
both the financial and human costs of adoption.”
Rob Boland
22 23Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
How can HR leaders gain more agility?
For starters, by listening, anticipating,
• Keep everyone informed about
and engaged in company
Climb the engagement summit: together
and staying open to new approaches. news, mission, and vision
While keeping the pulse of employee It’s no exaggeration to say that work Affordable and very usable platforms
• Keep your finger on the pulse
sentiment, morale, issues, and needs life has changed dramatically over exist for employees, managers and
of employees so you can quickly
is important in any work environment, the last several years. The lasting leaders to connect and support each
pivot to respond to their needs
it could not be more critical today. impact of the pandemic, remote other in a variety of ways. Embracing
work, and rising inflation have shifted recognition, rewards and a comprehensive
And because leadership can’t be
As we’ve seen in this report, our thinking in significant ways. approach to workplace wellbeing can
everywhere at once – especially with the
the recipe for engagement only stand to create stronger, more
post-pandemic distributed workforce and Employees now expect a more flexible
includes many key ingredients. productive, and more resilient cultures.
so many HR leaders reporting budget, work environment, more help with their
staffing and other pressures – simple An engagement platform that
financial life, and more honesty about
online solutions to bring HR closer to responds to your needs today and At Reward Gateway, as we’ve
– and support for – wellbeing issues.
the front line are becoming more and tomorrow – from communications watched workplaces evolve and
more essential. A full-service employee to rewards, recognition and Today’s workplaces are a far taken the pulse of global employees
engagement platform lets companies: benefits – can be as flexible as cry from yesterday’s archetypal over the years, we’ve learned
your planning needs to be. faceless corporations where this simple fact: the best way to
• Connect employees, managers employees were treated as just prevent stress, disengagement,
and leaders in an authentic way another input to production. and attrition is simply to be
• Encourage employee connections In the face of the pervasive chaos and an employer that cares.
through sharing, group anxiety many employees are grappling
activities and recognition with today, wise HR leaders are called
upon to get ahead of these changes
before your workforce quietly – or
even actively – disengages from your
mission and you find yourselves without
effective teams to fulfil your vision.
24 25Reward Gateway Your 2023 Guide to Employee Engagement
rewardgateway.com
26 27This report is presented by
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