Two key characteristics of Employers-of-CHOICE  

 

Research suggests that employers who enjoy superior employee engagement generally share two key characteristics.

 

        1.   The culture is based on six core values that reflect
                  a fundamental belief in people 

Arie de Geus' seminal study for Royal Dutch Shell in the 1990's (reported in The Living Company) showed that a values-based culture is critical to organisational success and longevity. 

Companies that espouse values which chime with innate human motivators can achieve high levels of employee engagement and performance.

Three distinct lines of research: neuroscience, genetics and occupational psychology have identified Six Core Values that create maximum employee engagement.

Through the extent to which their HR policies and practice embody these values, employers send a message to employees: 'we care about you and will strive to provide you satisfying and meaningful work in an open and ethical culture.'

 

      2.    Managers foster an engaging workplace climate
                  that reflects the six core values

In Johny's store (see home page for video link), the manager had clearly built an engaging climate in which Johny felt safe to try his ideas. Achieving and sustaining high levels of employee engagement means accepting one critical reality -


      it's the relationship between an individual and their  
      immediate line manager that is pivotal to their engagement


Virtually everything else: flexible working, fringe benefits, leadership strategy etc is subordinate to this one key factor. It largely determines an individual's decisions to stay or leave, to engage or disengage. As is often quoted, people join companies, they leave managers.

A Survey of 427 UK workers by IFF Research was published in Personnel Today (2nd Feb 2010). For each of 11 key factors people were asked 'how important is this to you at work?'

By far the most important factor, with 85% saying 'very important', was 'Atmosphere in the workplace'. In comparison, the factors usually considered key engagement drivers turned out not to be: Pay & reward attracted only 55% and Flexible working, just 38%.  

In summary:
Employee engagement correlates with the extent to which organisational culture AND workplace climate are aligned with Six Core Values.