According to Gallup, only 36% of employees feel engaged in the workplace. Interestingly, this number has fluctuated more in the past few years than it ever has before. At one point during the pandemic, it reached over 40% but has now gone back to where it started. In a manufacturing environment, often management doesn't interact with employees on a daily basis. Their offices are kept well separated from the work floor and, in some instances, they don't make contact with their employees at all – not even during the hiring process.
What is employee engagement?
By definition, employee engagement is a state of enthusiasm and involvement with their work. It describes an employee's willingness to perform their duties at a high level, to be fully focused on the task at hand and to contribute to the organization's mission.
Employee engagement is one of the most important concepts in organizational leadership as it helps to ensure that people are sticking around for the long haul. Engaged employees are more likely to be productive and less likely to leave or not show up for work. And they're also more engaged with their coworkers, which can lead to a stronger team environment overall.
Incorporating engagement into the manufacturing workplace
So, what can you do? First things first: make sure your employees know exactly why they are working for your company in the first place. Asking people what they like about working there is a good way to start, but don't stop there. Make sure they feel like they are part of a team that is working toward the same goals every day. This will create loyalty and engagement in your workforce that will last much longer than just one pay period or one bonus check.
Next, offer them opportunities for growth and development — and don't be afraid to take risks when you see fit. Give your employees room for experimentation and innovation, because this will only help them grow as humans and employees.
Employees are more engaged in the workplace when they are given a voice and a sense of purpose.
This is why it's important to make sure that you have an open-door policy where employees can come and talk to their managers or other employees about any issues they might be having. This will help them feel like they are being heard and that they matter.
Another way to make your workers more engaged is by giving them challenges at work that allow them to use their skill sets in different ways so that they don't get bored with their jobs. This can also help keep the company from losing its best talent to another, more engaged workplace.
In order for your company to be successful, you need your employees to be happy and invested in what you're doing and in what they're doing. Employees should be able to feel that they are appreciated and valued for their contributions. This can be done by providing them with the tools, training, and resources necessary to do their jobs effectively.