Re-Engaging Employees is Top Priority, Gallagher Survey Says

The survey reemphasizes the importance of internal communication and employee feedback.

With ongoing staffing shortages and workers concerned for their own health, employers are forced to reevaluate their relationship with their employees.

In its recent 2021/2022 State of the Sector report, insurance, risk management, and consulting firm Gallagher found that 53% of employers reengaging with their employees as a priority. In reengaging with employees, organizations will be better able to rally them around its purpose, strategy, and values.

Communication

Internal communications will rise in importance, but  what is being communicated must also be easily comprehended, the report says.

"As we move through 2022, to really nail that crucial clarity and alignment factor, the organizational narrative will need to be holistic and to cover 'how' we do it as much as 'why' and 'what' when it comes to communicating change," the report stated. "And that will certainly need some clear direction from the top."

Asking employers about changes they'll be making this year, the survey found that process and ways of working, culture change, and system and technology change to be the top three challenges employers were facing. "Lack of clarity from the top" was also a notable challenge.

Regarding  organizational well-being, purpose, strategy, and values, only 34% of participants said they were firmly, actively involved in the way they're communicated, the survey found. Overall, only 63% of respondents were involved with internal communication.

Improvements in D&I and ESG

The importance and benefits of a diverse and inclusive organization, as well as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) awareness, regardless of industry, has increased in recent years. So how is this awareness reflected within the organization's culture?

According to the survey, 77% of participants said their employees "care about their organization's commitment to reduce it's impact on the environment," yet only 50% have a "compelling ESG narrative in place."

Results with diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts were more favorable, with 61% of participants' organizations having a narrative in place that is shared internally. It was noted that larger organizations approached efforts to improve D&I and ESG in a more structured manner than smaller organizations.

Employee critiques

Whether maintaining social distance in the workplace or working from home, general interactions with employees are difficult to manage.

Some 88%  of survey participants agreed that their organization values employee feedback, which was a consistent answer regardless of the organization's size. However, 64% believed their organizations learn from the feedback they receive.

"The information you share has to resonate, it has to be clear and it has to drive action," the report said. "If your employees don't understand what you're saying, they won't waste their time trying to work it out."