In 2018, a Gallup report revealed that 85% of employees worldwide are functioning below their potential and feel a lack of fulfillment in their jobs. It’s a startlingly high number, one that is keeping some business owners up at night, and for good reason. According to Glassdoor, the cost of hiring a new employee (from recruitment to training) can cost a company thousands of dollars. This has made staff retention a top priority for employers and their human resource teams; the question is, how to do it?

More and more companies are now looking at their workers in same way they regard their customers and clients, and seeing engagement as a key to increasing loyalty and retention. Here are a few steps you can take to boost employee engagement at the office, and in turn, boost your company’s productivity and profitability.

Be Transparent

If your company is experiencing any bumps in the road, such as financial issues, litigation or downsizing, there’s one sure-fire way to make it worse: not informing your workers. News travels fast. They’re going to find out one way or another; best they hear it from you. Being upfront with your employees what’s going on lets them know that you consider them part of the company’s family. Transparency builds their sense of ownership, and increases their willingness to go to battle for your company.

Help Them Grow

An unchallenged worker will soon become a bored worker…then a restless worker…then very likely a departing worker. Employees need to feel like they’re constantly growing—in their position and within company. By offering coaching in subjects of interest, either individually or as part of a group training session, or by encouraging them to take online or local courses, you’re showing a commitment to them and your belief that they are valued members of your team.

Listen and Respond

A recent Wall Street Journal article stated that employees today consider working in a supportive, collaborative environment is more important to them than perks. They want to know that they are being listened to, and that any opinions or concerns they share will be acted upon. Proactively, HR teams shouldn’t sit back waiting for employee feedback; they should ask for it. Asking your workers for their input regarding their jobs, their departments, or the workplace in general will improve their sense of belonging. And of course, all of the insights you gather will ultimately help you create a better working environment for everyone.

Acknowledge Their Hard Work

Here’s a simple way to increase employee engagement and it requires no financial or time investment on your part: say “thank you”! Your workers are not solely driven by money. Acknowledgement of a job well done—especially in front of peers (e.g., at a staff meeting)— is a quick and easy way to build trust and motivate your workers.

Invest in Tech

​Better transparency, communication and training are great ways to boost employee engagement. So is technology. Cloud-based file-sharing tools like Dropbox or Google Drive, chat apps like Slack or self-service HR and payroll software are just some of the ways you can increase workflow and give your employees easy access to the materials they need, when they need them. Accu Data’s Human Capital Management solution is especially helpful to remote workers, putting them in the same working environment with access to the same information as the rest of your staff.

The benefits of a tech upgrade apply to human resource departments as well. It’s hard to keep track of employee engagement when your HR team is struggling with outdated, siloed systems. Contact Accu Data today and learn more about our HCM software solutions, and how we can bring all of your employee records together under one single, synchronized package.