Andrea Sugden serves as senior vice president of national accounts with Adecco, a global staffing firm. Having held this role for nearly five years, Andrea Sugden commands an in-depth knowledge of the employee-employer dynamic and awareness of what goes into a long-term work relationship.

1. Why and How to Improve
Employee Engagement
By Andrea Sugden

2. Introduction

Andrea Sugden serves as senior vice
president of national accounts with
Adecco, a global staffing firm. Having
held this role for nearly five
years, Andrea Sugden commands an
in-depth knowledge of the employeeemployer dynamic and awareness of
what goes into a long-term work
relationship.

3. About Employee Engagement

In a workforce where 18 percent of
employees are actively unmotivated and
disengaged from their work, according to a
2013 Gallup poll, it is essential for companies
to cultivate an employee-friendly
environment. Disengaged employees are
more likely to quit, which presents an
expense to the company in filling the position.
Studies show that replacing an employee
costs the equivalent of 20 percent of that
employee's salary, which means that
employers have a measurable incentive to
keep hired employees on board.

4. Conclusion

Research into current practices shows that a
respect for personal time and connection to
employees are among the most crucial
aspects of retention. A recent article in
Forbes suggests that creating a dialogue with
employees can help them to feel more
connected and thus more involved in their
work. Case studies also show that generous
time off and attention to personal needs play
a measurable role in engagement. One
company rose 20 places on Fortune's 100
Best Companies to Work For when
employees began receiving paid sabbaticals.