Employee engagement: trends and insights [2024 update]

Employee engagement is a critical aspect of the modern workspace, emphasizing the importance of a work environment that fosters employee motivation and commitment. The extent to which your employees are invested in their work, committed to your organization's goals, and motivated to go above and beyond to achieve those goals depends on how you encourage them.

Current employee engagement trends you can consider in 2024

In today's competitive job market, prioritizing employee engagement can help you recruit and retain excellent talent. Companies that are drivers of employee engagement jobs can create a culture of positivity, productivity, and innovation, driving long-term success and growth in 2024.

Employee upskilling and training

Providing opportunities for upskilling and training helps your employees grow, build their careers, and create a sense of loyalty and commitment to your company. CareerAddict shows that 82% of employees are willing to quit with no prospects of job progression. Upskilling involves providing employees with training and development opportunities to build upon their existing skills and knowledge while introducing new competencies and capabilities. This can include courses, workshops, mentorship programs, and on-the-job training, which can help improve overall productivity, boost morale, and increase employee retention. Upskilling can help you stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market: Your employees are equipped with the latest skills and knowledge needed to keep up with industry trends and advancements.

Employees value flexibility

Employees value flexibility as it enables them to manage their work-life balance better, which ultimately leads to job satisfaction and increased productivity. Providing the option to work remotely, adjust their work hours, or have flexible job responsibilities, employees can more easily attend to personal responsibilities, such as childcare or eldercare, and avoid the stress and burnout of a rigid work schedule. FlexJobs' research found that 75% of employees reported increased productivity while working from home. This can be due to various factors, including fewer interruptions (74%), reduced stress caused by commuting (71%), and fewer workplace politics (65%).

Employee-first policy

This trend emphasizes creating a workplace culture centered around employees, their experiences, and their feedback. Adopting this trend can help you create open communication channels between you and your employees, offering personalized benefits and perks and providing opportunities for professional growth and development. You can foster a sense of loyalty, commitment, and engagement among your workforce by putting your employees first.

Workplace diversity and inclusion

Organizations recognize the importance of creating an inclusive workplace culture that values all employees. This trend involves actively promoting diversity and equity in all aspects of the organization, from hiring practices and leadership development to employee resource groups and corporate language training. By fostering a culture of inclusivity, organizations create a sense of belonging and empowerment among employees of all backgrounds, further improving employee engagement.

Employee health and wellness

Understandably, workers are giving more importance to maintaining good health. Promoting your employees' health and wellness can improve their engagement and productivity. According to Virgin Pulse’s survey, 85% of companies believe that wellness programs boost employee engagement, and 42% asserted that the programs effectively enhance the employee experience.

You can drive initiatives like gym memberships, healthy eating options, and stress management resources to help your employees stay healthy, reduce absenteeism, and increase morale. You can also encourage healthy habits, such as taking breaks throughout the day to stretch, move, or meditate. This approach fosters a supportive environment that empowers employees to prioritize their health and well-being, leading to increased engagement and satisfaction at work.

Tech advancements in the workforce

Deloitte 2023 Global Human Capital Trends survey shows that more than 90% of surveyed business leaders believe that using such technology to improve work outcomes and team performance is very important to their organization’s success. The emergence of new and advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing, is causing workplaces to become increasingly digitized, leading to a more connected and engaged workforce.

Workplace technology improves employee engagement with the help of well-known collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams or, for example, digital signage solutions, such as Look DS that helps companies convey engaging messages to employees through digital displays located across the office spaces. These tools can facilitate real-time communication and collaboration among employees, regardless of location or time zone.

Additionally, you can encourage your employees to use digital platforms and online learning tools like Udemy and Coursera, which provide career development and growth opportunities.

Employee engagement cheat sheet

An employee engagement cheat sheet is a practical tool that you can use to improve engagement among your workforce. This trend is gaining popularity as companies realize the importance of engaging employees to improve productivity, retention and overall business success. The truth about the employee engagement cheat sheet is that it typically outlines actionable steps and employee engagement best practices for managers and HR teams to follow, such as setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback and recognition, and offering opportunities for professional development. The cheat sheet can help you implement effective strategies to engage your workforce. This tool can also help your managers and HR teams stay focused on key priorities, measure progress over time, and adjust as needed.

Employee engagement models

These models focus on creating a sense of purpose and connection among employees by aligning their goals and values with your organization's. They can create a more engaged and productive workforce, improving business outcomes. One such model is the Gallup Q12, which measures employee engagement through 12 key factors, such as clarity of expectations, opportunities for development, and recognition for good work.

Another popular employee engagement model is the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs Model, which focuses on satisfying your employees' basic physiological and safety needs, and higher-level needs related to esteem and self-actualization. Implementing and tailoring these models to your specific workforce can help you create a more engaged and motivated team.

Conclusion

Satisfied employees have high productivity, low absenteeism and turnover rates, and are likely to stay with their current employer for the long term. Creating a positive work environment that fosters engagement and motivation can help improve employee performance, leading to increased profits and a stronger bottom line.

Furthermore, employee engagement trends can also lead to high levels of innovation and creativity in the workplace. Engaged employees are more likely to contribute new ideas and take the initiative in their work, leading to new products, services, and processes that can give a company a competitive edge.

Look digital signage service allows you to display motivating videos and company announcements for your employees, creating a strong organizational communication channel. Try it right now within a 14-day Free trial or request a demo to speak with our sales team.