Benefits of Employee Engagement

Benefits of Employee Engagement

Benefits are numerous, both to the company and to the individual employee. In fact, 70% of employees involved in an Earthwatch Employee Engagement programme said that they had developed key management skills as a result of their experience.

Value Added to the Company

• Increased productivity - employees return refreshed and inspired. Line managers report greater productivity in returning employees.
  
  
• Improved employee compentency - the experience can build 'soft skills' that simply cannot be taught in a training room environment. Participants report an increase in confidence across all aspects of their lives, making them more effective at their jobs.  Improvements are common in areas such as team building, communication, analytical thinking, leadership, diplomacy, flexibility, conflict resolution, change-readiness, problem solving, and listening.
  
  
• Recruitment - research indicates that if faced with a decision between two equal companies, highly qualified staff will opt for the one with the better environmental performance/stance. The programme forms part of value proposition to graduate recruits (CPI Shell Research 2005).
  
  
• Retention - Demonstrating commitment to corporate citizenship is likely to be a string factor in retaining staff. Aligning individual's personal values with those of the company is a powerful motivator.
  
  
• Enhanced corporate pride - through demonstrating a commitment to sustainable development, partners engender a feeling of corporate pride amongst their employees. Investing in the programme also sends a clear message that staff development is high on the organisation's agenda.
  
  
• Integrate fellowship into HR practice - when programmes are embedded in the partner's HR strategy, they can become an important part of professional development plans.
  
  
• Motivational driver - placements can be used as a reward for employees in a way that pay does not.
  
  
• Identify internal champions for change - employee engagement programmes help CR practitioners to identify and develop internal 'champions' who can be a driving force for change within the organisation.
  

Benefits to The Individual

• Learning about sustainability - discover more about the challenges that the natural world faces and learn what sustainability means to you and your workplace.
  
  
• Professional development - enhanced by learning and applying new skills.
  
  
• Broadening perspectives -  meet people from different nationalities, backgrounds and cultures and form lifelong bonds.
  
  
• Lead the way - first step to becoming an internal environment champion within your organisation.
  
  
• Be part of the solution - enjoy a hands-on, pro-active experience, rather than hearing about the issues through the news.
  
  
• See something different - a refreshing and stimulating change of scenery for desk bound employees.