How to improve employee engagement

Attracting the best talent is one thing. Keeping your existing team engaged and fulfilled is another – and we think it’s well worth the investment. Let’s dig into why employee engagement matters and what you can do to improve it. 

It’s more than just ‘employee happiness’ or ‘workplace wellbeing’. An engaged employee feels connected to your goals. They understand and believe in what you do, and they feel motivated and proud as a result.

For example, if your business is serious about sustainability, you can reinforce that message and support your employees with a benefits package that includes an EV salary sacrifice scheme. 

People make your company tick. When they’re engaged and working in harmony, you unlock a whole bunch of benefits.

Engaged team members drive 23% higher profitability – and boost productivity, quality and workplace safety, too. In other words: when people feel motivated, they do better work, and this is great for business. 

An engaged employee is a loyal employee. They’re invested in the company, they believe in their work, and they’re happy in their role. They can be your biggest advocates – spreading good vibes in the workplace and positive feelings about your brand. 

Global employee engagement has declined for the second year in a row. Companies that can get employee engagement right will become famous for it, attract and retain the best talent, and enjoy an edge on their competitors. 

Our three-part philosophy includes some good old-fashioned groundwork alongside some tried-and-tested quick wins to help you see results soon. 

Bring your company values to life

Strengthen your employee benefits

Help people picture progress

1 / 3

Remember that team-building offsite at the microbrewery on the industrial estate? You defined your company values, then wrote them up in a shiny deck? Well, when was the last time you opened that PDF? 

It’s important to keep your values alive. Talk about them and refer back to them and they’ll become real. If you’re keen on inclusion, make sure employees know about your plans to attract talent from more diverse backgrounds. If you’re focused on going green, talk to your team about how they can get involved in the company’s net zero journey. When people see how the values come to life, and how they can contribute, they become more engaged. 

It makes sense for your benefits offering to be grounded in your company values. If you’re an organisation that claims to put wellbeing first, you can help your employees stay healthy with a cycle-to-work scheme and discounted gym membership. On the mental health side, you can offer confidential counselling sessions and subscriptions to apps like Headspace and Calm. 

Businesses with strong environmental and sustainability credentials should offer an EV salary sacrifice scheme. Switching to an electric vehicle is great for the planet, and your employees will benefit from tax and National Insurance efficiencies, too. A new electric car, better value on the monthly payslip, and a reminder that the company takes sustainability seriously? That’s a real boost to employee engagement. 

Lucy Gotting is Global Senior Manager, People Operations at WPP. “Our employees love this scheme” Lucy says. “We've got 40 cars on the road at the moment, and even just this week we've had five new applications. It's growing by the day!”

Not sure which benefits your employees really want? Don’t be afraid to ask. Set up a suggestion box or a quick online survey. This will help you gauge the interest in ideas like an EV salary sacrifice scheme. 

If you can help people see themselves as part of the organisation long-term, they’ll feel more invested and engaged. If they struggle to visualise their future, engagement will dip. 

Pay progression definitely plays a role. You should regularly benchmark your salaries against market rates and make sure yours are competitive. Keep creating and talking about development opportunities, too. This could include on-the-job upskilling and training, studying for formal qualifications, or internal networking and mentoring opportunities. If your employee tells you they’re ready to grow, help them set objectives that will stretch and develop their skills. 

It’s a game-changer for keeping your people motivated, productive and loyal. If you invest in good communications, training and development opportunities, and a strong employee benefits package, you’re likely to see it pay off with real business results. 

Ready to get started? Take a look at our…