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New Study Exposes Where Hybrid Work Falls Short, Making Employee Engagement a Nightmare
A new report finds 37% of employers are struggling to maintain employee engagement and connection in hybrid work environments.
Key Points
- A new report finds 37% of employers are struggling to maintain employee engagement and connection in hybrid work environments.
- While many companies use digital platforms to bridge the gap, a third remain passive about promoting benefits, waiting to be asked by employees.
- Experts warn this lack of proactive communication makes the investment in employee benefits ineffective, failing to translate into loyalty or productivity.
A new report from Towergate Employee Benefits reveals that 37% of employers find it harder to keep teams connected and motivated, a challenge driven by the logistical headaches of managing scattered teams.
The digital default: Companies are leaning heavily on tech to bridge the gap. The most common method, used by 34% of employers, is a dedicated digital platform, while others rely on more traditional methods like company intranets and email campaigns.
Effort vs. apathy: While nearly a quarter of companies are blending tech with a human touch by appointing internal "wellbeing champions" or hosting events, many are dropping the ball entirely. A third of employers wait to be asked before providing information on benefits, and a startling 13% don't encourage their use at all.
The bottom line: This passivity could be a costly mistake. Debra Clark, head of wellbeing at Towergate, argues that benefits are a key tool for connection, calling them a "virtuous circle" for engagement. Without it, she warns, the investment in benefits is simply money down the drain.
The report underscores a critical disconnect: simply offering benefits is no longer enough. In a hybrid world, proactive and creative communication is the only way to ensure that investment translates into loyalty and productivity. But the engagement challenge goes beyond just communication, with other research highlighting a major understanding gap where few employees grasp the full range of benefits offered. To combat this, some are rethinking the entire model, exploring how flexible benefits can boost engagement.
