New research released by Qualtrics, the creator of the experience management category, revealed the extent at which businesses in Singapore can boost employee engagement by acting on employee feedback.

The Qualtrics study, 2020 Employee Experience Trends: Singapore, found the average employee engagement score across Singapore is 47%. This is behind the global average of 53%, with India (79%), Thailand (72%) and Hong Kong (63%) returning the highest scores.

Employee engagement rises significantly to 83% when employee feedback is well-received and acted on. It falls by over half to 34% when feedback is not acted on.

The frequency at which feedback is collected and acted on also impacts employee engagement. Qualtrics found employee engagement is 67% when feedback is collected and acted on at least quarterly. When the frequency is 1-2 times a year engagement drops to 50%.

“Our study shows that asking for employee feedback and the frequency with which organizations ask have a direct impact on employee engagement scores. However, what really moves the needle is whether employees feel the company turns their feedback into tangible actions,” said Stephen Choo, EX Senior Solutions Strategist APJ, Qualtrics.

Research from Qualtrics partner Korn Ferry shows highly engaged employees are more likely to exceed performance expectations, and their employers benefit from 2.5 times more revenue growth and 40% less churn.

“The positive impact of high employee engagement cannot be overlooked. Modern employee experience programmes make it easier and faster than ever for businesses to consistently listen and act on employee feedback, ensuring decisions are always made with people in front of mind,” added Choo.

The drivers of great employee experience in Singapore

Almost two-thirds (64%) of workers in Singapore believe it is very important employers listen to their feedback. Businesses providing a feedback programme achieve an engagement score of 55%, compared to 33% for those who do not.

Among the top drivers of employee engagement in Singapore are a clear link between the work and the company’s strategic objectives, confidence in senior leadership to make the right decisions, managers who help employees with career development, opportunities for learning and development, and recognition for good work.

“This latest Qualtrics study outlines key focus areas for businesses to improve their employee experience, and the actions required to provide every employee with a voice, especially during times of transformation. It’s critical for businesses to regularly ask feedback, listen, and most importantly act on it,” added Choo.

Increasing employee tenure

When it comes to changing employers, 18% of workers in Singapore intend to stay with their current employer for less than a year. The number of employees looking to change jobs more than doubles (38%) when the period is extended to two years.

This is in line with the global average, where 18% of workers intend to remain with their current employer for less than a year. The regions with the highest attrition levels are Australia & New Zealand (23%) and the United Kingdom (23%). In contrast, Germany (13%), Japan (11%), and Thailand (6%) enjoy the lowest attrition risk.

Employee engagement tends to increase the longer an employee remains at the company in Singapore, peaking around four years. However, engagement drivers change over time, reflecting the need to continually understand and act on important issues.

The key engagement driver for employees with less than two years tenure is a link between work and the company’s objectives. Engagement for employees with 4+ years of tenure is mostly driven by confidence in senior leadership.

“With an increasingly demographically diverse workforce, there will be different expectations from employees across different age groups. Leaders and managers must invest in their employees’ career development, quickly resolve workplace issues and understand what matters most to teams at different stages of the employee lifecycle. This helps companies to retain exceptional talent and reduce employee churn, making it a win-win situation for everyone,” said Choo.

Qualtrics EmployeeXM

Qualtrics EmployeeXM, built on the Qualtrics XM Platform, identifies experience gaps across an employee’s journey, from recruiting to onboarding to performance management, to drive experience breakthroughs. It enables managers and leaders to understand and improve the experience of their employees so organizations can attract, develop, engage, and retain a world-class workforce.

With Qualtrics EmployeeXM, HR managers and leaders can also analyze their employee engagement results against global, country and industry benchmarks.