Dive Brief:

• New research from YouEarnedIt shows that, of the 750 employees studied, only 10% rated their employee experience a 10 out of 10.
• The study lists four "key pillars" of employee engagement: Connection, meaning, impact and appreciation. Employees want to feel connected to their colleagues and managers, to feel their work has meaning and impact on the company, and to be appreciated for the work they do.
• Companies also must exhibit a strong company culture, as 49% of respondents said culture influences their employee experience more than the physical environment (22%) or the technology they use to do their jobs (29%).

Dive Insight:

It's no surprise that an enjoyable, meaningful company culture keeps employees engaged. But a recurring theme in recent studies seems to be the independence given to workers as well as appreciation for their efforts.

Managers play a key role in ensuring a company's culture is communicated appropriately, and are usually an employee's only real touchpoint with company leadership. A manager that allows employees to control their work tends to see better results than a manager that attempts to micromanage every aspect of an employee's job. Good managers also let their employees know their efforts are recognized and appreciated.

HR can be instrumental in retaining a strong, well-developed group of managers; good employee leadership development programs can help. HR also has to recognize that fun perks, like nap rooms or ping-pong tables, only go so far. True engagement relies on a strong match between an employee's work style and the day-to-day interactions at a company.