Boosting Employee Engagement: The Power of In-Person Events

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the workplace, accelerating the trend of remote work and emptying out office buildings around the globe.

In fact, 58% of facilities professionals surveyed by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) reported that occupancy had decreased by 61 percent or more as a result of COVID-19.

This sudden change has brought about many challenges, including difficulties in maintaining collaboration and communication, and increased stress due to the blurring of work-life boundaries.

As COVID-19 fears subside and we settle into a “new normal,” many employers are implementing return-to-work policies to combat these issues – despite a significant amount of employee pushback.

After all, employee expectations have changed drastically since the start of the pandemic. Not only do workers expect flexibility when it comes to their schedule and physical workspace, but if they’re going to make the commute to the office, they want to be part of a lively community and positive workplace culture.

The Case for Culture

As employee priorities continue to shift and the job market becomes increasingly competitive, workplace culture will become even more important.

This culture – defined by your organization’s values, beliefs, and behaviors – has a significant impact on employee retention, performance, and engagement.

Research shows that culture is a worthwhile investment if you want to boost employee satisfaction and drive positive business outcomes.

According to Gallup, low engagement teams typically endure turnover rates that are 18 to 43 percent higher than highly engaged teams.

So, what can your organization do to engage employees and foster a healthy workplace culture? Start by building a sense of community and connection with in-person events.

The Role of Workplace Events

Workplace events are a great way to breathe life back into your facility and encourage employees to work on-site. In addition to boosting morale, they help to promote collaboration, inspire creativity, and reduce stress among returning workers.

From happy hours to luncheons and game nights to holiday parties, there’s no shortage of events you can host to attract the interest of employees.

Still, many employees have reservations about attending events with hundreds or thousands of coworkers. Protecting their health and safety should remain a top priority.

You can adapt your facility and in-person events to comply with COVID-19 safety guidelines, as outlined in our Stay Open Responsibly guide. Steps might include ensuring access to PPE and deploying advanced cleaning methods before, during, and after organizational functions.

Strong leadership is the key to effectively implementing these cultural reformations (and the safety protocols that go along with them). Leaders must clearly communicate the desired changes and provide ongoing support to ensure that they are consistently embraced and reinforced.

By taking these actions and prioritizing workplace culture, you can achieve improved morale, increased productivity, and greater overall organizational success.