Employee disengagement also costing US economy dear

Companies lose $350 billion a year — and for reasons that can’t be blamed on the economy. These companies are losing money because of employee disengagement.

Employee engagement is a measurable degree of an employee’s positive or negative emotional attachment to their job, colleagues and organization, which profoundly influences their willingness to learn and perform at work.

Thus, engagement is distinctively different from satisfaction, motivation, culture, climate and opinion. An engaged employee will act in a way that furthers his or her organization’s interests.

“How many of the employees in your company are really engaged? If you believe that about half are, you may actually be surprised,” says M.J. Helms, director of operations for The Ashton Group. “According to a recent Gallup study on employee engagement, about 54 percent of employees in the United States are not engaged and 17 percent are disengaged. Only 29 percent are engaged.”

Smart Business spoke with Helms about what your company can do to have a satisfied, productive and enthusiastic staff.

Some suggested questions to ask in your employee survey are:
• Do you know what is expected of you?
• Do you have the materials, equipment and information you need to do your job right?
• Have you recently received recognition for doing a good job?
• Does your employer seem to care about you as a person?
• Does your manager encourage your development at work?
• Do you feel your opinions or ideas seem to count at work?
• Do you feel that your co-workers have the same dedication to their jobs as you?
• Do you have a best friend at work?
• When was the last time your manager talked to you about your progress?
• Have you had any opportunities at work to learn and grow in the past year?

Recent research has shown that appreciation is the driver behind great work. There is no greater tool for teaching, reinforcing and aligning company goals and values than employee recognition. Appreciation will help your company by ensuring that employees are receiving the appropriate training to support their ongoing development. It also links employee skills with opportunities for growth in the company, helps employees understand how their work contributes to the company’s bottom line, and gives employees ongoing feedback on their performance.