A huge focus of my work is talking to people about engaging employees and what that looks like. There is no one simple solution as to what engages employees best - we are all different and therefore motivated by different things. What engages and motivates one employee is not necessarily going to have the same motivational impact on someone else and part of the answer is therefore to talk more frequently to your employees about what makes them tick.
That being said, it comes as no surprise that recent research indicates that corporate sports event (such as a sponsored 10k run) has a positive impact on employee engagement and well-being. The research points to the fact that a shared experience, which is outside of normal day-to-day duties, increases rapport between colleagues and introduces a strong sense of purpose, as well as the positive side-effects of exercise! Often corporate sporting events have been seen as part of an organisation's corporate social responsibility policy but now it appears there is good reason to consider it as part of your engagement and well-being strategy. So perhaps planning that sponsored 10k run should be moved up the agenda?
It argued that, while a third of firms said they planned to introduce a wellbeing strategy this year, their primary motivation for making this investment and commitment was not health and wellbeing at all. Improving health and wellbeing was certainly a factor, but it was the desire to improve employee engagement, organisational culture and staff retention that were considered the greater catalysts.
Related Articles
A short lesson in employee engagement. Doing it by the book.
Kavanaugh and Blasey-Ford: seven critical questions for today’s workplace decision making
I'm a left-hander in a right-handed world and it's so unfair...!
HR Magazine: Events manager files £250,000 lawsuit after botched summer party
When workplace events go wrong, the consequences can be serious. Zoe Wigan offers practical advice for HR teams on setting expectations, supporting managers, and creating safer, more inclusive social events.
People Management: HR must protect workplace investigators from the threat of vicarious trauma
Head of Resolution Zoe Wigan shares how to recognise and mitigate this risk for investigators of distressing subject matter.
Personnel Today: Six ways to kickstart conversations about team stress at work
Rachael Forsberg shares six steps for workplaces properly discussing team stress, as a crucial first step in tackling it.
