How many employers today know what organisational climate and engagement testing is? Judging by the trends - more and more. In the last five years, companies from numerous industries have decided to conduct regular employee engagement and satisfaction surveys. Human resources management professionals recommend that organisations conduct comprehensive surveys of employee satisfaction every year, and shorter versions are conducted to check progress towards positive changes between them.
How do those surveys look in practice and can they positively affect employee motivation?
Discovering the factors that impact motivation
Organisational climate and satisfaction surveys encourage employees to give concrete and honest answers. Such a feedback format helps managers to gain a detailed insight into the reasons for employee dissatisfaction and to discover business segments that have a positive impact on the engagement and motivation of teams. Thus, a company using concrete data and insights from employees can make informed decisions about policies and practices within the organisation and improve the work environment.
Motivation impacts productivity, and productivity affects profitability
Long-term increase in productivity is an important essential condition for the growth of the company, and even more so for its competitiveness. Keeping up with trends and staying ready to respond to market demands means having employees who readily adapt to changes while remaining productive.
A positive organizational climate and high levels of employee engagement are often associated with increased productivity. Employees who feel valued and engaged are likely to be more motivated and effective in their work. On top of that, teams with high employee engagement have 21 per cent higher profitability and 17 per cent higher productivity compared to low-engagement teams.
Replacing an employee can cost 20% of his annual salary
Because surveys also help identify factors that contribute to employee satisfaction or dissatisfaction, they enable employers to identify potential problems that could cause employees to look for another job. By solving problems promptly, it is possible to reduce employee turnover, which reduces the costs of hiring and training new employees.
Some studies have shown that replacing an employee can cost approximately 20 per cent of their annual salary. Organisations that encourage high employee engagement can reduce the turnover rate by up to 59 per cent. On top of that, companies that report high levels of employee satisfaction also report 65 per cent lower turnover rates.
How employee engagement affects the number of innovations
Innovation is crucial not only for the creative and IT industries. As a result of increasingly fast technological progress, rapid changes and strong competitors, an innovative approach is imposed as an imperative, and encouraging innovation among employees becomes an important managerial task.
Employees who are engaged and feel free to express their ideas and opinions are more likely to contribute to innovation within the organisation. Surveys can help identify barriers to innovation and encourage creativity. According to some research, companies with engaged employees are 2.5 times more likely to be innovation leaders in their industry.
Firstly find out what employees think
The happier the employees, the happier the clients. Is it true or just a corporate myth? Research shows that satisfied and engaged employees often provide better customer service. This is because they feel valued and supported by their superiors, so they tend to be kinder and more proactive in their approach to clients.
Therefore, in order to achieve the implementation of positive changes that encourage more accommodating employees to put in extra effort regarding the client's requirements, management must first know what the employees think about the work atmosphere. Only after the evaluation of the honest answers can the management present the changes to the employees and thus strengthen the corporate culture of the organization.
Notice if everybody is sharing the same values
Regular surveys can help management determine how aligned employees are with the organization's values and goals. This is crucial for long-term success as it helps ensure that all employees are working together towards the same goals and vision. The theory is supported by practice – the data shows that almost three-quarters of employees who feel aligned with the goals and values of their organization report higher levels of engagement.
Keep up with surveys
Examining the organizational climate and employee engagement are key tools for business improvement. They make it possible to understand the needs and perceptions of employees, and that is the basis for creating a positive and productive work environment.
Regular surveys enable the identification of problems and dissatisfactions at an early stage, before they become serious and disrupt the working atmosphere. That way the organization can proactively and continuously adapt strategies and practices to ensure employee satisfaction and achieve business goals.
If you want to identify potential threats (but also opportunities) in your company's organisational climate right in time, reach out to our experts to conduct employee engagement surveys and increase their motivation. Don't forget that the numbers from various studies clearly show that this practice brings measurable benefits that can significantly impact business success!