‘Employee engagement improves business, manage cost’

Employee engagement has been identified as a tool for businesses to use in optimising performance, manage cost and drive productivity, experts have said.They disclosed that employee engagement reflects on the impact and value of an organisationcommunicating career needs and challenges to leadership.

Speaking at the ninth special human resource forum organised by Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) in Lagos, the experts posited that human resource has a responsibility to create an economy that functions with the government.

Region Segment Leader, Europe, Mercer|Sirot, Nick Staritt, said involving employees and recognising that they know better than their managers goes a long way in helping organisations save money. Besides, getting them to work together in small groups or teams of three to four people, coming out with innovative ideas taking advantage of resources in creating wealth for the economy.

Staritt said businesses are rapidly moving on the back of technology where automation is taking the place of human, it is important for Human Resource function to mount business for engaged employees.

Earlier in his remarks, President and Chairman, Governing Council, CIPM, Udom Inoyo, said Nigeria’s economy is facing many challenges central to which is the need for greater cost effectiveness. Yet without strong employee commitment and an engaged workforce, he said, sustained business success will not be achievable.

He disclosed that studies have shown the connection between employee engagement and positive business outcomes, including innovation, productivity, safety and customer focus.

“It is the responsibility of the institute as business leaders, HR practitioners and custodians of human and material resources to think short and long term steady stage and change, also to ensure organisations can leverage stability and adapt to the possible waves of change that may confront businesses, assuring long term viability and short term profitability,” Inoyo said.