In the dynamic world of internal communication, employee engagement plays a crucial role. For communication professionals, it is essential to understand how a social intranet can help strengthen this engagement. Our clients can also use Plek to uniquely measure their employee engagement through ‘Employee Centered Listening’. This method goes deeper than traditional surveys by conducting personalised and scalable conversations, leading to factual insights. You can find out more in this blog, or download the whitepaper.
The essence of employee engagement is that employees themselves indicate what is most important to them. So not by means of a prefilled model or standard questionnaire, but bottom-up: we first ask what people think really is important.
But measuring is one thing, doing something with it and supporting improvement is two. That is why we have looked at the extent to which a social intranet helps to strengthen these factors, and show with the help of several customer cases of customers who actually apply and experience this. We also provide a score reflecting the degree of support provided by a social intranet. Below you can see the top 10 factors most frequently chosen:
1. Fun at work
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A social intranet can significantly increase fun at work. Think sharing successes, informal chats and organising virtual events. ‘Thanks to Plek, we have a central place where we can continue to inspire, involve and inform our employees,’ says Gaby Hafkenscheid of Op Stoom.
At the Zaans Medical Centre, fun at work is also promoted by social interactions and informal communication on the intranet: ‘InZide is seen less as a “work” intranet, but more as a place where you can also chat with colleagues,’ says Pauline van Brederode.
2. Feeling valued by the organization
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Recognition and appreciation are crucial for engagement. Rivas‘ social intranet shows how employees have a platform that not only serves for communication, but where they themselves are a central key piece: “Plek at Rivas is not only a platform of communication, but really of the employees,” says Rivas’ Jiska Wemmenhove. This strengthens the sense of appreciation and commitment.
3. Enhanced team cooperation
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A social intranet is a collaboration hub. At TBI Infra, team dynamics are enhanced by shared documents and project management tools, ensuring smooth collaboration - even if colleagues never work together in the same location. ‘With the Keet, TBI is able to reach all employees easily, and enthusiastic employees share updates on projects, expertise and knowledge,’ said Carolien Visschers of TBI Infra.
4. Feeling understood
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Features such as polls and feedback modules allow employees to make their voices heard. ‘We now have a platform by and for employees. We rely on the communication power of colleagues,’ says Helga Hogenkamp of Berkelland Municipality. Plek's ‘Smart Conversations’ provide an additional powerful platform for personalised conversations, allowing employees to be truly heard.
5. Work/life balance
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While a social intranet can streamline work processes and make them more efficient, it has little direct impact on work-life balance. This remains primarily a task for wider organisational policies. However, at organizations like Zaans Medisch Centrum(ZMC), the intranet can contribute to this: ‘Our intranet supports employees in finding a work-life balance by facilitating flexible work options and home-working opportunities,’ said Pauline van Brederode of ZMC.
6. Fair pay
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Fair pay is primarily a policy issue. While a social intranet can promote transparency by sharing information on pay structures, it does not directly influence pay decisions.
7. Collaboration and helping each other
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A culture of mutual help is fostered through forums and Q&A sections. ‘Thanks to our intranet, employees can easily ask questions and offer help to colleagues, which strengthens mutual support and cooperation,‘ says Rivas’ Jiska Wemmenhove. At Appèl, the intranet also promotes mutual help and cooperation: ‘Colleagues can decide for themselves whether to participate in these groups, to connect with other Appèl colleagues from across the country,’ says Lisa van Lith of Appèl.
8. Active listening
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Plek's ‘Smart Conversations’ help organisations actively listen to their employees. ‘We assume the communication power of colleagues. That's how it really works. Everyone in the organization posts messages,’ says Helga Hogenkamp of Berkelland Municipality. This contributes to a culture where the employee's voice is valued and utilized.
9. Sense of meaningful contribution
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Employees want to know that their work matters. Sharing successes and contributions through the social intranet reinforces this feeling. ‘Through our intranet, employees‘ contributions are shared and valued, which strengthens their sense of making a meaningful contribution,’ says Carolien Visschers of TBI Infra.
10. Fit in with the team
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A social intranet can help new employees feel at home quickly. Social features such as profile pages and introductions at Op Stoom promote an inclusive culture where everyone feels welcome: ‘Thanks to Plek, that connection has become much better and colleagues know how to find each other faster,’ says Bas van Meerkerk of Op Stoom. Also at Zaans Medisch Centrum, the intranet helps new employees adapt quickly and find their place within the team: ‘Plek makes employees feel connected by actively involving them from day one,’ says Pauline van Brederode of ZMC.
A social intranet offers powerful tools to enhance employee engagement. From promoting fun and appreciation to improving collaboration and communication, the benefits are clear. Although some factors such as work-life balance and fair pay require more policy attention, a well-implemented social intranet can have a significant positive impact on employee engagement.
Want to learn more about how a social intranet can help your organisation? Visit Plek's Social Intranet page to find out more.
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