Many government employees are looking for more than just a job. They want their work to serve a purpose. They want resources that will help them do their work efficiently, and they want to feel engaged. When government workers feel engaged, they’re more productive, more resilient and prouder of the work they do. Yet only 19% say they are highly engaged at work. And 27% say they are disengaged. It’s not all doom and gloom—we have some simple tips to improve employee experience and engagement.
Build relationships with praise
If government employees don’t feel they have a good relationship with their coworkers, they may not feel very involved. Personal relationships are one of the biggest factors that impact the employee experience. Help your team build relationships by hosting a “Praise Phrase Challenge” where people compete to see who can hand out the most compliments/praise to others. There are two rules: Write each praise phrase down after you say it and keep it genuine.
At the end of the challenge, send each worker a list of the praise they’ve received. This will help them feel appreciated and valued. And reward those who praised their colleagues the most with an employee engagement gift, like a mini folder or flashlight.
Give employees the right tech
Sometimes not having the right technology can make workers feel inefficient. Having to do things the old school way (like using paper instead of electronic files) can lower engagement and make work feel tedious. Ask employees what they need to do their jobs better.
Whether there’s a simple thing like a flash drive or something more complex like new equipment, let your employees know you hear their needs and will do your best to get the right resources in place.
Recognize and award success
Rewarding employees for a job well done can incentivize them—and their coworkers—to continue doing their best. In fact, 82% of workers consider recognition an important contributing factor to happiness at work.
Rewards can be anything from an oven mitt to a popcorn tin to a stylish notebook. Be sure to include a handwritten note. Or come up with a list of the top five things you value most about an employee and tuck it in a tabletop frame on their desk.
Develop employees’ skills
Actively helping staff build their talents can make for a positive employee experience. Establish a professional development program that continuously develops their skills. That can include a coach or mentor program, online courses or books.
Before deciding how the program will look, survey employees to find out what they would prefer and what they want to learn. That way, you can tailor the program to each employee. A plaque to hang on the wall after completing a course can motivate them to never stop learning.
Give employees a great work experience
By using ideas like building relationships, offering the right resources, making a point to recognize success and giving away employee engagement gifts—you’ll be able to improve employee experience. Workers will feel more engaged and purposeful as they work on projects, creating a more loyal and involved workforce.