Connectivity is not employee engagement

 

Working out of hours, being available 24 / 7 and being ‘connected’ to work doesn’t mean employees are engaged.  They need head space to be able to do that!  So, make sure you give it to them.   Being ‘connected’ to work all the time can also pose risks such as burnout or anxiety which Christina points out in her blog Connectivity – an emerging WH&S Risk.

Employee engagement is where employees are emotionally committed to an organisation and its goals.  It is when employees actually care about their work and the business they work for.   But they don’t have to be constantly working or available to do that.  In fact if they are constantly working I doubt they will be engaged for long and it is not good for their mental health – or productivity!

Employee engagement can and should be assessed to obtain important feedback about behaviours, perceptions and satisfaction, as we all know it’s important to business success and maximising ROI from your people.   Measuring or assessing employee engagement can also assist in preventing and managing mental health issues in the workplace as questions asked should lead onto reflection, conversations and checking in with employees.

Employee engagement is evident through things like, an employee volunteering to accept more projects, offering to stay late to meet a deadline, giving more than required, supporting mission, vision and values, offering to help colleagues, sharing cost saving or other ideas, speaking positively about the business…….. not working and being available ALL the time!

Whilst a little bit of being available outside of working hours is acceptable and professional, make sure your employees get time to live and have that head space.  Head space will give them room to think and maybe even think of creative, innovative, different, great ideas to contribute for the business as those of who are engaged do!

At HR Business Direction we are able to assist with developing a mentally healthy workplace and engaged workforce to maximise the return on investment from your people.  Contact us here.

HR Business Direction support RUOK? In the promotion of regular, meaningful conversation in the workplace.

Leisa Messer BBus(HRM); GradDipIR; CAHRI; IRSQ
Managing Director | HR Strategist
leisa.messer@hrbd.com.au
07 3890 2066
www.hrbd.com.au