The Advantages of a Strong Company Culture to Employee Engagement

A company with engaged employees is easy to spot. In these organizations, the culture is clearly defined and employees understand the purpose and goals they are working toward. Simply put, there is a feeling of shared success.

These benefits extend beyond the company level. Besides the obvious benefits of being happier to come into work each day, employees who felt engaged at work had 37% higher overall well-being compared with actively disengaged employees. In addition, workers who are engaged in their work tend to live a healthier life, exercising more and eating more nutritious foods.

Employee engagement starts at the executive leadership level. The leadership team must have established purpose, values and a vision that employees would want to be a part of. The company must also establish a hiring strategy that selects employees who are the best fit for the culture.

For some companies, creating a positive work culture can seem like an unnecessary expense, but having a disengaged workforce can be significantly more costly to the company. In fact, according to a Gallup study, companies with disengaged employees see 37% more absenteeism, 49% more safety incidents, 60% more quality defects and 49% more turnover than companies with an engaged workforce.

Establishing a culture that engages employees requires careful thought and planning, an understanding of the purpose behind the company’s work and a commitment from executives and employees at every level. With strong leadership, a compelling vision and consistent internal communication, companies can develop a strong culture and begin taking advantage of the benefits of engaged employees.