CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN MANAGEMENT

Last Modified 12/28/2014 6:08 PM India Standard Time

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT KOZHIKODE, EPGP-06

Printed

Project for Course: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN

MANAGEMENT
Topic: Employee engagement and Work life balance
Submitted By:
Rishi Arora
EPGP-06-059
1|
McKinsey & Company
Page

What is Employee engagement

Last Modified 12/28/2014 6:08 PM India Standard Time

In todays global business environment, an organizations ability to further engage

the leaders and employees is a major competitive advantage. If they stumble, it could
cost the organization dearly in terms of lost productivity, decline in customer retention,
inability to attract top talent, loss of top talent, decline in employee morale, increases in
unethical behavior, and more.. Todays most successful industry leaders have discovered
having a critical mass of employees who freely give of their discretionary effort is a
tremendous competitive advantage

Printed

Aon Hewitt one of the leading HR consulting firm defines Employee Engagement in very
specific, behavioral terms. Engagement is not about creating happy or loyal
employees, but about measuring the state of emotional and intellectual involvement or
commitment of the workforce. It goes beyond satisfaction (how much I like things here)
and commitment (how much I want to be here) to engagement (how much I want to,
and actually do, improve our business results).
We found that a single item such as intention to stay or leave is an imperfect measure of
employee engagement. Engagement is a multi-faceted construct represented by several
behaviors.
2|
McKinsey & Company
Page

Engaged Employee and its impact on organization

is committed and will go aboveand-beyond

is passionate and takes personal

ownership for the quality of their
work

paints a positive image of the

organization and recommends it

and its products/services to others

understands how their work

results in meaningful outcomes

understands and vigorously

pursues the organizations goals

Promotes a positive
working environment
Builds a sense of community and
teamwork which leads to happier,
more productive employees
It can promote solidarity amongst
colleagues
Society for Human Resources
Management (SHRM) found that in
companies with well-developed
CSR, morale was 55% better and
business processes were 43% more
efficient

Builds a good corporate

reputation
Public image in companies with
well-connected and engaged
employees is stronger than
companies with a poor one
Attracts investors, clients and
promotes top talent recruitment

Last Modified 12/28/2014 6:08 PM India Standard Time

An engaged employee . . .

Printed

3|
McKinsey & Company
Page

Work life balance

Last Modified 12/28/2014 6:08 PM India Standard Time

Work life balance is including proper prioritization (career and ambition) and between work
and lifestyle (Health, pleasure, leisure, family and spiritual development etc)
Its a ways of daily accomplishment and enjoyment of all aspects of persons life Work,
Family, Friends and most importantly Self.

Ways to achieve this

Printed

A vital factor in achieving a balance is making sure that the work portion does not
overwhelm or dominate; and also, that it does not cause damage to
the individual by way of negative stress
The optimum work-life balance will not remain static but will vary
over time and depends upon person to person , there is no one
size fits all in work-life balance

4|
McKinsey & Company
Page

Symptoms of Being Out of Balance

Last Modified 12/28/2014 6:08 PM India Standard Time

Physical:

Headaches, upset stomach, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, muscle

tension, fatigue, heart palpitations

Emotional:

Depression, anxiety, irritability, difficulty making decisions, angry outbursts,

resentment, feelings of powerlessness

Personal:

Lost time with friends and loved ones, job burnout, isolation stopping social
activities, relationship loss/difficulties, self medicating

Strategies To Improve Balance

Learn to say no

Leave work at work

Track your time

Identify options at work and take advantage of them

Bolster your support system

Know when to seek professional help (Contact EAP)

Printed

5|
McKinsey & Company
Page