A 2022 Gallup poll of about 67,000 people found only 32% of workers are engaged with their work compared with 36% in 2020, according to fastcompany.com. Employee engagement is crucial to a company’s growth and profitability.
Employees who believe they are treated unfairly are more likely to be dissatisfied and pursue litigation. Fastcompany.com offers the following steps leaders can take to treat employees fairly, keep them engaged and set them up to succeed.
- Set clear performance benchmarks. Employers often do not set performance standards for individual employees, which can be problematic when an employer wants to terminate an employee because of poor performance. If performance issues are vague, employees are more likely to believe they were terminated for unfair reasons. When employees know how performance is being measured and what is expected, it is easier to improve performance. Employers also should regularly check in with employees to review progress and discuss any issues.
- Apply policies consistently. Employers must implement clear policies and procedures all employees can reference. Written policies can be an issue if they are not implemented with consistency—allowing exceptions for some workers can lead to discrimination claims. Policies should be made readily available to employees; written in simple language; and must comply with federal and state regulations.
- Lead by example. Company leaders should represent the values they expect from employees. High-ranking leaders sometimes can be perceived as receiving special treatment even when they demonstrate bad behavior. Giving a pass to one person and punishing someone else for the same behavior could lead to a claim of discrimination.
- Invest in your team’s growth and development. Employees are more likely to stay with a company when they believe their employer is invested in their individual success and career path. Organizations should clearly define career paths; necessary education and experience for positions; and information regarding specific skills and certifications needed. Resources and opportunities should be made accessible to all employees.
- Be empathetic and flexible when possible. Excessively rigid policies are more likely to be violated. Employers should be empathetic and work to accommodate employees with policies that allow for flexibility. There may be situations that require an employee to request an exception to the rule, and leaders should respond with good judgment and common sense. Policies also should be reviewed by a human resources professional or legal counsel.
