Employee Engagement in Organisations During a Pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study on employee engagement in organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper presents the results of a survey conducted during the pandemic among 123 employees working for organisations of various kinds. The questionnaire survey was carried out using the computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) methodology. The process was based on certain claims of grounded theory. Statistical analysis was carried out using basic methods of descriptive statistics, statistical tests and selected methods of multivariate statistics, including the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy, Bartlett's Test of Sphericity. Findings: The overall level of organisational engagement in organisations that operated during the pandemic was rated as moderate by the respondents, with the most favourably assessed issues including communication between employees and supervisors, sense of job stability, concern for the fate of the organisation, mutual inspiration to work, and employees' sense of satisfaction with being part of the organisation. The results also revealed statistically significant correlations between the different elements of organisational engagement. Practical Implications: The practical implications that arise from the results obtained in the study concern mainly the role of organisational engagement for effective operations of an organisation, including during a crisis situation, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that taking action to improve communication and cooperation, promoting the policy of equal opportunities and capabilities, fair treatment and evaluation of employees and many other instruments can foster the development of employee engagement, which brings results in the form of higher level of job satisfaction, stability and efficiency, thus improving the operations of the organisation. Originality/Value: This paper is an attempt at filling the gap in the area of the status, role and value of organisational engagement during this pandemic, which may prove to be relevant for companies given the current circumstances, as well as possible future unpredictable challenges.