Employee engagement: An evidence review

Employee engagement is a firmly established HR topic. It is referenced in decisions by investors, boards and managers alike. But despite its popularity, this construct faces ongoing challenges: definitions and measures are many and varied, and the research base is often weak. 

Our latest research draws on the best available evidence to answer a selection of practical questions to help people professionals understand employee engagement. We examine what employee engagement is, how to measure it, what outcomes it leads to, and what drives it. This evidence review covers four key areas that are commonly associated with employee engagement:

• work engagement: whether people feel vigorous, dedicated and absorbed in their work, and other measures carrying the label ‘engagement’  
• organisational commitment: in particular looking at employees’ psychological feelings (‘affective’ commitment)
• organisational identification: how employees psychologically associate with their organisations
• work motivation: factors that lead people to be interested and committed to their job.

See the discussion report for the main insights and practical recommendations for action. 

See the scientific summary for our methodology and technical information on the research and study references.