Just 21 per cent of global workers are "engaged," or willing to go the extra mile to help their organisations succeed, and senior leadership isn't doing enough to increase that engagement, according to a recent survey of some 90,000 workers in 18 countries. Furthermore, nearly 40 per cent of workers worldwide are partly to fully disengaged, according to the Towers Perrin Global Workforce Study, conducted by professional services company Towers Perrin. The firm claims the report is the largest ever of its kind.
The study also found that organisations with higher levels of staff engagement perform better financially and are more likely to retain key employees than companies with low engagement levels. Specifically, Towers Perrin found that the organisations with the highest engagement levels collectively increased annual operating income by 19 per cent and boosted earnings per share 28 per cent year-over-year.
Perhaps most relevant to CIOs and other executives is the fact that organisations themselves - specifically, senior leaders - have the most significant impact on staff engagement.
"One of the study's key finding is that the organization itself is the most powerful influencer of employee engagement," said Julie Gebauer, managing director and leader of Towers Perrin's Workforce Effectiveness consulting practice. "Personal values and work experience factors have less of an impact on engagement than what the company does - particularly the extent to which employees believe senior management is sincerely interested in their well-being."
"People's views about the company are also shaped more by what senior leaders say and do than by what the individuals' direct bosses say or do," Gebauer said.
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