People First: Why Employee-Driven Selection Matters in the Workplace

Being in sync is not just a term for the music industry. Having organizational goals that align with those of the workforce is a synchronization that produces great rewards for all involved. In Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace Report, phrases like “living for the weekend” and “work is just a paycheck” were mantras of most global workers in 2022. And with only 32 percent of employees engaged at work, most have stated they don’t find their work meaningful or don’t feel hopeful about their future. 

With this alarming reality, it’s time for employers to turn to their teams for input. That’s right, for workplaces to thrive, employees must have a say in how to energize and transform the environment in which they spend the majority of the week. This employee-driven selection strategy not only supports increased engagement among teams, but it cultivates a space where work is more than just a paycheck. From boosting productivity to opening dialogue, here is why employee-driven selection matters for employers and why it’s at the core of our business at TouchTunes. 

Boosts Productivity

According to Gallup research, the correlation between employee engagement and performance outcomes measures consistently through a variety of industries and organizations, with a 23 percent difference in business profitability when comparing the top and bottom engaged teams. Additionally, the report found that high engagement improves employee retention, as teams with low engagement experience turnover rates that are 18 to 43 percent higher than teams of high engagement. Overall, engaged employees show up with passion, purpose and energy to contribute to the success of the business as a whole.

Put employees first in the workplace by implementing genuine open-door policies where thoughts, opinions and feedback are genuinely welcomed and responded to. In doing this, employees feel valued and understand they have a say, which in turn generates engagement and leads to increased productivity. And don’t stop there – when employees witness leadership acting on their feedback, trust is built and loyal teams are born. So, include your teams in decision-making via surveys, suggestions and brainstorms, and watch productivity increase. 

Reduces stress

Let’s face it, stress has become a worldwide issue in recent years due to varying circumstances, and it’s difficult to hide the fact that U.S. workers are among the most stressed globally. Approximately 83 percent of U.S. workers suffer from work-related stress, with 25 percent saying their job is the number one stressor in their lives. Stress directly drives absenteeism and illness, which directly impacts productivity. 

Another survey revealed a third of employees wished their managers acted with more empathy. Empathy is not just caring about what happens to workers, it’s about taking action to ensure they feel included and cared for. Employee-driven selection is one of the best ways to make that happen. Everyone in the workforce, even those who rarely speak up, want a say in how the company operates. Once employers realize that, it becomes easier to act out of empathy and make sure everyone’s voice is heard and represented. Doing so will drastically affect stress levels for the better, and result in lower turnover and absenteeism.  

Drives purpose

Author Jim Collins once eloquently wrote that “it is impossible to have a great life unless it is a meaningful life. And it is very difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful work.” Purpose is key in everything we do, and if we aren’t finding purpose consistently in our workplaces, why should we continue working there? A 2021 survey illustrated how more employees at the top 100 best workplaces in the world believe they can make a difference and find meaning in their jobs compared with average workplaces. Essentially, if employees feel they’re not sharing in the company’s mission, they quickly feel excluded and their sense of purpose fades.

As part of the commitment to employee-driven decisions, workers should be able to make the most of where they spend the majority of their week and employers should accommodate those decisions to drive the ultimate feeling of purpose. Consider gauging employee interest in participating in a community volunteer activity, or uniting your team for a worthy cause like supporting a nonprofit organization or colleague that might be in need. Bringing meaning and mission to the workplace based on personal preferences and feedback is a great way to drive purpose. 

Encourages Positive Social Impact

Diversity, inclusion, belonging and positive social impact are workplace values that are filled with purpose. These elements fuel a healthy work-life balance and bring meaning to the otherwise mundane day-to-day. There’s a reason why an ESG score is a thing – it’s the determining factor of whether employee-driven selection is a core operation of the organization. Through open dialogue, employees will be able to speak for their “group” and make their unique mark on the overall operation of the business. Every person has the experience to bring to the table, and when a company reflects the multi-faceted prism of all voices within, it stands out in a big and bold way. And, with 76 percent of millennials considering an organization’s social and environmental commitments when making a decision on where to work, it makes social responsibility a critical focus to recruit top talent.

Employee-driven selection is paramount to TouchTunes, where we believe in putting employees in the driver’s seat of setting the culture tone and office, store or facility vibe through employee-selected shared music. Accordingly to a recent survey conducted by TouchTunes, nearly 70 percent of employees believe that music in the workplace has contributed to a happier workplace environment. By incorporating employee-driven selection in an important workplace benefit like a digital jukebox for the workplace, our clients experience boosted productivity and efficiency, lower employee stress levels, a higher sense of purpose and positive social impact.

The time is now to get in-sync with workers and create a culture that is driven forward by putting employees first. Let TouchTunes Unlimited be a part of your solution.

Written by W. Ross Honey.
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