What are the dos and don'ts of improving employee engagement in 2022? Professor Alan Saks, a human resources expert from the University of Toronto Scarborough/Rotman School, explains why it's time for a different approach to HR management.
Show notes
[0:00]: "When you don't care about your employees, they will not care about the organization, they will not be engaged, and they may quit." Professor Alan Saks has studied the shifts in human resource management for the past three decades. He even co-wrote a book on employee engagement. With the pandemic changing the way we work, it's time to reflect on whether your employees are engaged with their jobs, and how you - as a company - can show you actually care about them.
[1:04]: A definition of employee engagement.
[3:35]: The business risk of employee burnout and how to help employees avoid it.
[5:09]: What exactly is a caring Human Resource Management system, and how does it benefit companies and employees?
[6:58]: What is Klick Health, and how are they proving they care?
[8:35]: The first step is really listening to what your employees need.
[9:33]: Compromise may be key.
[10:22]: Wading into the WFH debate.
[11:36]: What is organization engagement? And why does it matter for employee satisfaction?
[13:06]: Why organizational engagement may be more effective at decreasing turnover than job engagement.
[14:01]: Take note: employee perceptions really matter.
[14:41]: The case of Goldman Sachs and unlimited vacation days.
[15:30]: In argument against performance-based pay.
[16:08]: The cost of being an uncaring company.
[16:40]: Be prepared: Proving you care takes time.
[18:12]: "If you want employees to care about their job and the organization, you need to care about them. And you need to demonstrate that care with tangible actions that address employees needs and well-being."
For more reading (subscriptions may be required)
Saks, A. M. (2022). Caring Human Resources Management and Employee Engagement. Human Resource Management Review, 32(3), 100835.
Saks, A. M., Gruman, J. A., & Zhang, Q. (2022). Organization Engagement: A Review and Comparison to Job Engagement. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 9, 20-49.
Saks, A. M. (2006). Antecedents and Consequences of Employee Engagement. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 21 (7), 600-619.
