Business Philosophy - Engaging Employees

Core belief: Engaged employees are more productive. Skeptical? See the evidence.

What do you mean by “engaged employees”?
Employees are engaged when the company allows them to “feel, think and act like owners” The owners:

• Share business information openly so staff can better serve customers and contribute to success
• Reward performance so employees have a stake in the outcome
• Minimize hierarchy and promotes employee involvement in company-wide decision-making

How do you engage employees?
Successful strategies to engage employees include the following:

• Build Trusting Relationships: Trust, honesty, inclusivity and corporate integrity are key values in the workplace. They are further developed through a process with employees, are commonly referenced and acted upon. Diversity of ideas, personal characteristics, and ethnic backgrounds are seen as strengths. Leaders reinforce the value of diverse contributions from employees. Status distinctions (office arrangements, language) are reduced. Employees work in a healthy, safe and secure environment.

• Offer Competitive Compensation and Share Profits: Compensation and benefit levels are competitive and part of a broader reward and recognition program that reinforces the values and behaviors that benefit the business. There is an ongoing process for benchmarking and checking-in with employees about what benefits are valued. Compensation increases with improved personal performance and business performance. The business shares profits with employees based on an objective plan.

• Support Personal And Professional Growth of Employees: The business invests in growing the knowledge, skills and abilities of its employees. Training needs are identified, encouraged, and provided to support personal growth and enhance business success. Skill-building resources are accessible to all employees whether they strive to advance up a career ladder, move laterally or grow in their current position. The business tries to fill job openings from within.

• Share Business Information Openly: The key indicators that measure business performance are shared with employees on an ongoing basis. Employees are trained sufficiently to read and understand the performance indicators and believe in the credibility of the indicators chosen. Employees understand how the quality of their work and their productivity impact the performance of the business. Decision-making is sufficiently decentralized so that employees are given the authority needed to accomplish their jobs. Employees are engaged in continuous improvement of products and support processes.

• Minimize Hierarchy and Promote Employee Involvement: All employees are allowed and encouraged to participate in the business to the extent that they wish. There are a variety of ways for employees to interact and impact working conditions and how the business meets its goals. Participation allows the business to maximize the use of their employees and surface unknown skills.

• Use Positive Reinforcement to Motivate Employees: Supervisors see themselves as coaches and positively motivate employees. Employees work collaboratively with their coaches to set goals and objectives for their own position, for themselves and for the business. Comments are solicited as part of reviewing coaches. There is a formal process that results in a periodic documented measurement of employee performance against pre-set goals and new goals for the next performance evaluation period are established. Where possible, goals are set forth in a manner that allows objective evaluation.

• Preserve Job Security: The business values the long-term tenure of its employees and makes an effort to preserve jobs when health/family interfere. The company is cautious not to over hire during good times and employs effective strategies to avoid or mitigate layoffs. When layoffs do happen, the process is handled in ways that reflect the company’s shared values.

• Commit to Company and Employee Involvement in Community: The business recognizes its interdependence with the local economy, the environment and community. The business fosters an open relationship with the community in which it operates and is sensitive to the community’s culture and needs. The business acts to minimize the negative environmental impact of its work. The business invests in the local economy and community and is an active partner in local programs and issues that make the community a better place to live and conduct business. Employees are supported in becoming engaged through volunteer activities and local charitable giving.

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