It's a sunny day on a non-descript lawn somewhere in the recent past. Employees and their families roam about playing yard games while balancing handfuls of hotdogs and cold drinks. For many years, scenes like this represented the stereotypical employee appreciation party. Businesses have been forced to adapt and abandon the picnics as more employees move to hybrid or remote work schedules. So, the question remains: What should enhancing employee engagement look like in the modern workplace?

 

A simple internet search of employee engagement will return all the suggestions one might expect, such as providing time for your employees to have fun or host a company/team meal. Yet these results, as time-tested and classic as they are, are out of place in a fast-paced modern workplace. For companies to ensure the further growth of intra-office camaraderie and culture, businesses not only have to think outside the box but also reach back in time and add a twist to some oldies but goodies. 

 

Betterwork, a company specializing in assisting HR professionals, lists several ideas to encourage employees to be more present and take pride in their work. One such idea is to hold open office hours. For some, office hours may conjure unpleasant memories of anxiously waiting to talk to a professor about a test or paper gone awry. But in a professional workplace, a set time to talk to office leaders provides a stellar opportunity to maintain open lines of communication, a component of all successful enterprises. 

 

Furthermore, the chance to be heard by higher-ups allows employees to voice their input on matters where employees might only sometimes be heard or ask questions only management can answer. Given the situation, an office may generally enjoy an open-door policy from its leader, but by setting aside time specifically for more open-ended big-picture talks, employees can increase their understanding of the company's mission and become further invested in their duties.

 

A modern office is dotted with computer monitors, constantly ringing phones and equipment. No longer is business conducted over a lazy lunch and hammered out over afternoon cocktails. The success of an enterprise is determined by the strength of an internet connection and the speed at which fingers can dance over a keyboard. With the internet providing more opportunities than ever to connect, it has also made withdrawing easier. 

 

Too often, workplaces resort to ploys such as organizing outside-the-office meetups and retreats to get employees to engage further. While these events show employees how much they are valued, they are often costly and can become time-sucks. Instead, what if offices encouraged employees to engage in on-the-job team projects with clear parameters and specified outcomes -- instead of grouping teams in flag football or ping pong? Yale University says, "Efficiency rules when work is appropriately divided within a team, responsibilities are shared, and tasks are more likely to be finished within a set time frame." In an office, resources like budgets, people and time are finite; all are constantly stretched and contorted to fit the needs of everyone. But by engaging in smart, comprehensive collaboration and communication behaviors, those resources can go the extra mile.

 

With that in mind, the world of small and local businesses takes work. Employers constantly look forward, searching for the next big trend or new ways to increase their bottom line. In this case, encouraging or assigning employees to work within teams may be the way forward. Zippia, an online job-seeking site, found that "Collaboration increases productivity by 25 percent or more." This not only drives home the importance of interoffice teamwork but also highlights its effectiveness and practicality in the workplace, further emphasizing that businesses are built and maintained on external relationships but rely on internal harmony to ensure future expansion.

 

If you look at the world's most valuable companies today, a noticeable trend is apparent: one in which employees derive both pleasure and fulfillment from their work and where they are eager to come to work every day. Take Google, for example; they practice an open-door environment and ensure that employees fully understand the company's mission and goals, certifying they can perform to the best of their abilities. While many businesses don't have the resources to replicate these employee lifestyles exactly, they can foster a company culture where employees remain engaged and excited about their work by utilizing the same tools and tactics as larger institutions. 

 

The company picnic-the physical act that may no longer be popular exists in spirit. Today, it is recognized in activities like happy hours or pizza lunches and the assurance that each employee will have their voice heard. Management should foster it from the top down and make it unique. Strengthening employee engagement ensures an enhanced company culture and a sense of unity and enhances office relationships. 

 

In the end, when office relationships are strong, engagement is higher and it's good for business.