Recently, two stories in the news caught my attention. One made the national news and the other has potential to do the same. Each story has an employee engagement connotation.
Article: Clinton Says She Followed Rules on Email
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/11/us/hillary-clinton-email.html
Authors: Amy Chozick and Michael Schmidt
Date: March 10, 2015
“In a news conference about her exclusive use of a private email account while secretary, Mrs. Clinton sought to squelch the furor about those communication, already in its second week. She acknowledged that it would have been wiser to use a government email for official business, but said she “fully complied with every rule,” and was going “above and beyond” what was required of her in asking the State Department to make public much of her email correspondence.”
Why is this story about employee engagement?
Managers can have a positive influence on engagement when they:
- Give employees autonomy in making decisions and completing their work
- Provide regular specific feedback to their direct reports about what they do well and what they could do differently for better results
In the case of Mrs. Clinton, there was no clear direction that a government email was required and no one provided feedback on the personal email address she used. Perhaps the use of a government email address will now be required for all government officials.
Article: I-Team: Workers, Students Pay Websites for Fake Doctor Notes
Link: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/Fake-Doctor-Note-Investigation-Sick-Sale-Profit-Online-295402601.html
Authors: Ann Givens and Chris Glorioso
Date: Monday, Mar 9, 2015
“The [NBC 4 New York] I-Team has discovered several websites selling authentic-looking doctor notes that promise to get employees and students out of work or class because of make-believe illnesses.”
Why is this story about employee engagement?
In previous posts, we looked at the three groups of people within a company: Engaged, Not Engaged, and Actively Disengaged. The Actively Disengaged employees aren’t just unhappy at work; they’re busy acting out their unhappiness. Seeking out fake doctor notes is definitely an example of acting out. They cost their company directly through unearned wages and indirectly through lost productivity. There is even a potential impact on their teammates who must shoulder additional work. These fake doctor note companies are a clear sign that active disengagement exists.
What do you think about the employee engagement connotations of the stories above? What news stories have you seen or read that have employee engagement connotations? Make entries in the comments log below.
Let’s Engage!
I’m Agent in Engagement Simpson…Gregory F Simpson.
Employee engagement is a critical mission. I hope I can count on your help! Subscribe to the RSS Feed to receive the latest intelligence/insights and/or register to make entries in the comments log.
You can follow me @agtinengagement.
Email me at g…@a…t.com.
Learn more about me at www.gregoryfsimpson.com.
P.S. First contact? Welcome to the Agent In Engagement community. Explore and join fellow employee engagement operatives in targeting a known thief – alias: Disengagement. Together we can bring this thief to justice and make the world a better place for all companies and their employees.
Other recent Agent in Engagement data/reports by Agent Gregory F Simpson:
- Employee Engagement Intelligence Briefing: 2015.03.02 – 2015.03.06
- Veteran Operative Employee Engagement Insights: 2015.02.23 – 2015.02.27
- The Wheel of Employee Engagement: Opportunity for Advancement
- The Wheel of Employee Engagement: Growth & Development
- The Wheel of Employee Engagement: Recognition & Rewards
- The Wheel of Employee Engagement: Manager – Employee Relationship
