What's the Difference Between Employee Engagement and Employee Experience?

Employee engagement and employee experience are two critical components of a successful business. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they refer to different aspects of the employee-employer relationship. Employee engagement is the extent to which employees are emotionally invested in their work, while employee experience is the sum of all interactions an employee has with their employer, from the moment they apply for a job to the time they leave.

While there is some overlap between these two concepts, organisations need to focus on both to create a positive and productive workplace culture.

Here are some statistics that highlight the importance of both experience and engagement in creating a positive and productive workplace culture.

Employee Experience

  • According to a study by Deloitte, 80% of executives rated employee experience as important or very important.
  • A survey by PwC found that 73% of employees said that a good employee experience is a deciding factor when considering a job offer.
  • Another study by IBM found that companies with a strong employee experience outperformed their peers in revenue growth and profitability.

Employee Engagement

  • Gallup’s latest global employee engagement survey found that only 20% of employees worldwide are engaged in their jobs.
  • A study by Glassdoor found that employee engagement is strongly correlated with retention, with companies that have engaged employees experiencing lower turnover rates.
  • According to a report by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), organisations with high levels of employee engagement had a 19% increase in operating income and a 28% increase in earnings per share compared to organisations with low levels of engagement.

By investing in these areas, organisations can attract and retain top talent, boost employee productivity and profitability, and improve overall business outcomes. We’ve put together some tips on how to understand and optimise employee engagement and employee experience.

Recognise the difference between employee engagement and employee experience AND do both

Employee engagement is a measure of how invested employees are in their work. It is often measured through employee surveys and can be influenced by factors such as job satisfaction, opportunities for growth and development, and a sense of purpose or fulfillment. Employee experience, on the other hand, is the sum of all interactions an employee has with their employer, from the moment they apply for a job to the time they leave. It includes factors such as recruitment and onboarding, company culture, employee benefits, and work-life balance. Recognising the difference between the two is important for understanding how to improve both.

Focus on employee experience to improve engagement

While engagement and experience are distinct concepts, they are closely linked. They are are both important for creating a positive and productive work environment. That being said, employee experience is seen as a more holistic approach to improving the workplace. By focusing on the entire employee journey, organisations can identify and address pain points and opportunities for improvement at every stage of the employee lifecycle.

Employees who have positive experiences with their employers are more likely to be engaged in their work. ­­Therefore, improving employee experience can be an effective way to boost engagement. Improving employee experience often requires a strategic and long-term approach. This may involve redesigning physical workspaces, digitising work processes, rethinking company policies and procedures, creating a positive company culture, providing opportunities for growth and development, and investing in new technologies to support employee productivity and wellbeing.

Use data to understand employee engagement and employee experience

Employee engagement and experience can be difficult to measure, but data can provide valuable insights into both. Implementing a digital tool not only boosts engagement by improving the employee experience but also provides unvaluable insights into what employees are engaging with in real time. In addition, regular employee surveys, for example, can provide feedback on engagement levels, while exit interviews can help identify areas for improvement in the employee experience. This data can be used to make informed decisions about where to focus efforts to improve engagement and experience.

Create a culture of communication and feedback

Communication is essential for both engagement and experience. Employees who feel heard and valued are more likely to be engaged in their work and have a positive experience with their employer. Encouraging open communication and feedback can help create a culture of trust and transparency, which can in turn boost engagement and experience.

Continuously evaluate and improve

Improving engagement and experience is an ongoing process. It requires continuous evaluation and improvement. This can involve regularly reviewing employee feedback, measuring engagement levels, and making adjustments as needed. It is important to be flexible and willing to adapt to changing circumstances in order to maintain a positive employee experience and high levels of engagement.

Key Takeaways

Engagement and employee experience are both important components of a successful business. While they are not the same things, they are intwined, and improving one can have a positive impact on the other. By recognising the difference between the two, focusing on employee experience to improve employee engagement, using data to understand engagement and experience, creating a culture of communication and feedback, and continuously evaluating and improving, businesses can create a positive work environment that fosters engagement and supports employee success.

The Wyzetalk platform enables businesses to build meaningful connections with their employees, improving their overall experience and thus impacting their levels of engagement. To find out how Wyzetalk can help your organisation foster better employee engagement through an improved employee experience, talk to an expert today.