How offering employee benefits can help to engage your team

Employee engagement is a crucial aspect of any well-functioning organisation. Engaged teams are high-performing teams that achieve their goals and contribute toward the success of the company. 

When employees feel engaged, they are more motivated, productive, and likely to stay with the company longer. Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace Report^[1] revealed that the UK is amongst the least engaged workforces in Europe, ranking 33 out of 38. Employee disengagement can mean absenteeism, a drop in productivity, and an increase in staff turnover. Could employee benefits be the key to boosting team engagement? Read on to find out…

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What causes employees to feel unengaged?

There are many factors that can contribute to employees feeling unengaged at work, including:

• Mental health problems: Mental health issues, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, are becoming increasingly prevalent. According to the UK charity, Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 6.8 people experience mental health problems in the workplace, which can make them feel less engaged and motivated at work.
  
  
• Feeling underappreciated: Employees who feel undervalued or underappreciated by their employer may become demoralised. It can happen when employees don't receive recognition for their hard work or when their contributions go unnoticed.
  
  
• Lack of progression: Employees who feel unchallenged in their day-to-day roles, without clear career progression plans, can start to feel aimless.
  
  
• Disjointed teams: Effective teamwork is essential for employee engagement. When teams lack cohesion and communication, it can create a negative work environment that leads to disengagement. Without a sense of connection and collaboration among team members, employees may feel isolated and unfulfilled in their roles.
  
  
• Poor work/life balance: Maintaining a healthy work/life balance is crucial for employee wellbeing and engagement. When employees are overworked, it can have a negative effect on their personal lives. They can start to feel disconnected from their jobs and less motivated to perform well.
  
  
• Burnout: Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. When employees are consistently overworked and have intensive job demands, it can lead to disengagement as they struggle to find meaning and purpose in their work.

What is the impact of employee disengagement?

Employee disengagement is a big problem for staff and employers alike. When an employee is disengaged, the quality of their work is likely to suffer. It can start to have a knock-on effect, putting extra pressure on other high-performing team members to meet team targets. Disengagement can lead to absenteeism, which can disrupt workflows and overall team morale. 

Employee benefits to boost engagement

Offering a range of employee benefits is one way for organisations to address the factors contributing to disengagement. By supporting overall employee wellbeing, companies can start to see improved work performance and a more positive culture. Some of the most effective engagement-boosting benefits include: 

• Recognition and rewards programs to show appreciation for employees' hard work and contributions. Team lunches to celebrate promotions, celebrations, and hitting goals can help to boost morale.
• Wellness initiatives such as gym memberships and health cash plans give staff the resources to look after their mental and physical health. Health Shield’s health cash plans allow staff to claim money back on everyday health treatments. They include 24/7 counselling, to make sure no one has to struggle with their mental health in silence.
• Opportunities for personal and professional development to give direction and increase motivation. By offering extra training and courses, you’ll provide the tools your staff need to gain new knowledge. And, by putting together development plans and goals for your staff, they can feel more motivated and engaged with their jobs.
• Team building activities to improve communication and collaboration among team members. They’re a great way to foster positive relationships, helping to boost morale and ensure employees stay engaged with their work.
• Flexible working arrangements to support a healthy work/life balance, for instance, remote or hybrid working means staff can spend more time with loved ones rather than commuting to the office.

Employee engagement is crucial for the success of any organisation. Companies can address, and even prevent, disengagement by understanding why it can happen and offering tailored employee benefits, like a health cash plan. If you need a hand building a successful business case for implementing a health cash plan, download our eBook.

^[1] Gallup: State of the Global Workplace Report 2023