Gallup: Manufacturing workplace "less engaging" for workers than other sectors

Gallup found in its 2017 "State of the American Workplace" report that 25% of manufacturing workers are engaged at work—eight percentage points lower than the national average of 33% employee engagement, making it the least engaged occupation across the U.S. Gallup consultants note that today's employees expect to be managed differently than they were in the modern era of manufacturing that began in the 1920s.

What can be done? In a Gallup News web feature, the company's Art Swift describes five specific things Gallup consultants recommend that leaders and managers do:

• Communicate. Understanding why a company follows a particular process and ensuring that information is properly disseminated are crucial.
• Allow for more control of work. In manufacturing, much of the work is predetermined, based on the nature of the day-to-day process. Great manufacturing leaders figure out the amount of control they can give back to the employees, which allows them some choice in potentially rote procedures.
• Create accountability. Great managers work with employees to establish how "we can all be" accountable to the work. When done right, accountability creates higher engagement. It is important to make sure underperforming employees and managers are held accountable, even in situations where management structures may not lend themselves to performance accountability.
• Make sure people feel like they matter. This includes making sure every employee understands how they fit into the complex infrastructure of their company. For example, bring customers to the plant to speak with employees about the impact of their products or take "field trips" to customer factories to help plant employees see how the product is used in the different products the client produces.
• Be available, and be engaged. Leaders must be engaged, as employee engagement is a two-way street. Manufacturing managers must be approachable and receptive to employee concerns, and incorporate feedback into enriching future procedures.

Read Gallup's entire 400-word article, "5 Keys to Boosting Workplace Culture," here.