Maintaining Employee Engagement under Duress

Sara Ismellia Binti Ismail

Duress, Employee Engagement.

The purpose of this study is to examine the importance of maintaining employee engagement for the organization in an atmosphere of economic uncertainty due to COVID-19. Executives can’t handle forces beyond their control however, there are things they can do to protect their company, their employees, and themselves. In fact, engaging employees could mean their company’s survival. How can organizations help their employees to stay focused and face such significant change? The study is based on a qualitative and quantitative research method. In-depth information was provided on employee engagement, effects of COVID-19, its relevance and integration with effective Human Resource practices to help align human activities to the corporate strategy. The major findings indicate that despite the negative headlines of employee layoffs and cost cutting due to COVID-19, organizations are still functioning. There is a great uncertainty about the future. Increasing pressure on organizations to retain its top performers who contribute significantly towards an organization’s growth has further highlighted the role of employee engagement as a tool for retention. It is important to maintain employee morale during downturn through effective engagement programs. Employee engagement constitutes the core competence of a successful organization. It is linked to important organizational issues like retention, productivity and satisfaction.

https://doi.org/10.31871/WJRR.12.4.10