What if the key to improving employee engagement isn’t just about the snacks in the break room?
Rather, it’s about focusing on things your employees care about most.
Like, their families.
Efforts to support families can shape workplace culture, promote work-life integration and introduce children to potential career paths, according to BambooHR.
Like Kids at Work.
This summer, I collaborated with my colleagues to host this family-friendly event for Dominion Energy in Hampton Roads. More than 70 children recently visited our operations center in Norfolk for a chance to fly drones that inspect power lines, climb into work trucks, try on line worker gear and view safety demonstrations.
As a former elementary school teacher, I know how hands-on experiences help deepen students’ knowledge and spark curiosity. For three hours, kids aged toddlers to teenagers asked questions about how their relatives keep the lights on. From climbing power poles to operating wind turbines, our staff explained how Dominion Energy powers the community every day.
If you’re interested in strengthening employee engagement, then here are some tips to create your own family-friendly events.
Focus on safety
Anytime you invite visitors into your office, safety has to remain top of mind. Ensure your entrances and exits are clearly marked. Discuss what areas are open and which ones are off limits. Develop a sign-in procedure. Provide maps and facility guidance. Review emergency protocols.
Start early
The women’s employee resource group, called We3, began planning this summer event in January. We engaged all the resource groups and corporate leaders who offered support for the event, further affirming the importance of staff engagement. We surveyed colleagues about the format and activities they’d like to have at the event. This allowed me to connect with multiple teams and departments. I work in External Affairs, but I got a chance to collaborate with co-workers in operations, power generation, human resources, security and more. In that sense, the planning process is also a form of employee engagement.
Spotlight various departments
Create a range of activity stations that highlight various departments. This allows staff to share what they do as well as gives the youth a chance to see tools and processes up close. Providing a range of activities shows the depth and breadth of your company. Offering a mix of activities also helps with crowd control. Some of our stations were timed sessions and others were free flowing.
Keep it fun, flexible and family-centric
This event was open to all employees and their families. As a mom and former teacher, I know that kids like to move and eat. This event included snacks as well as hands-on activities that were both indoors and outside. We added a photo booth with props as well as provided stickers and swag bags. We even included an at-home version for staffers who could not attend in person or wanted to participate in a smaller setting. We offered quiet rooms and self-paced tours.
Collect feedback
Along with soliciting input on the front end, we also hosted a debrief session to review what went well and what we might change in the future. The team also plans to distribute a survey for colleagues to provide candid feedback. This survey also will provide us with a chance to learn about the impact of the event and collect anecdotes to share internally and on social media.
In all industries, especially the utility business, employee engagement is critical for safety, reliability and customer service. Appreciation fosters a workplace culture in which employees know they are valued. This feeling leads to stronger dedication, retention and innovation.
Engaging employees keeps your business moving forward, and it also powers the community — one family at a time.
Kristy Edwards is an external affairs representative III for Dominion Energy based in Hampton Roads, covering Chesapeake, Suffolk and most of Western Tidewater.