Private Sector Employee Engagement Strategies in Botswana: Case of Choppies Retail Store

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate employee engagement strategies applied by the Botswana Private Sector with reference to Choppies Retail Store in Botswana. The focus of the paper, Choppies Botswana, is one of the fastest growing retail companies. The Chain store’s growth notwithstanding, it is currently experiencing challenges related to lack of employee commitment due to non-engagement on the part of management. Additionally, the retail chain is beset with problems related to unsatisfactory customer service and a low level of minimum wage. According to the available body of literature, employee engagement exists when employees are committed to organizational goals and success. Employee engagement strategies usually used by management are employee rewards and communication. Employee rewards is the recognition and rewarding of outstanding performance employees. Communication is entails deliberate efforts by management in imparting or exchanging information about the organization through different means of communication. Engagement strategies are therefore, critical in employee engagement in an organisation such as Choppies Retail Stores. The chain can implement this strategy in its organisational system by rewarding outstanding employee performance. Rewards are an incentive for more employee input and effort. The findings of this paper proved that the application of these strategies has the potential to increase organisational profitability. The researcher recommends that Choppies Retail Stores designs and implements a detailed written plan for employee engagement strategy. This is a paper of relevance to both policy makers in the Botswana Private Sector, Private Sector Trade Unions, and employees of Choppies Retail Stores.