Increasing employee engagement in 2024: what is quiet quitting and how can you fix it?

In 2023, “quiet quitting” became something of a social media buzzword, and during the same year, Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report ranked the UK 33 out of 38 for employee engagement - with nearly 90% of employees considered to be unengaged and either “quiet” or “loud” quitting. 

What is quiet quitting?

Quiet quitting is when an employee doesn’t necessarily hand in their notice, but instead fly under the radar, putting in the minimum effort required to do their job and feeling - at best - disconnected from their workplace, or, in the worst cases, stressed and burnt out. According to Gallup, nearly 6 in 10 employees are quietly quitting. 

However, all is not lost for these employees. When asked by Gallup what employers could do to improve their workplace, 85% of those in the “quiet quitters” cohort were related to one of three categories:

• Engagement and culture (41%)

• Pay and benefits (28%)

• Wellbeing and work/life balance (16%)

While pay and benefits still make up a substantial concern for employees, it is clear that engagement and culture issues are the driving force behind a lack of engagement in the workplace. The good news for 2024 is that there is plenty of opportunity to improve them. Events won’t solve every problem, but they go a long way towards recognising the effort your employees are putting in, rewarding it, and driving up that employee NPS.  

Recognise great performance

Don’t overcomplicate it: when any employee hits a goal or has any sort of achievement, a great way to reward them is via their stomach. From team reward lunches, breakfasts and canapé receptions to doughnuts and hot chocolates, it’s an easy win that will make your team feel valued. 

Make your office worth it 

WFH is here to stay, and with the costs associated with commuting in and eating lunch out, it’s easy to see why. Most companies are striking a balance, and in order to keep employees motivated and happy when in the office, we’re seeing many of our clients opt for laying on a regular lunch for their teams. Whether that’s a weekly residency of street food favourites or a monthly treat, consider everything from office catering to sweet treats to street food trucks. 

Think outside the box

Sure, after work drinks are the norm and they’re easy to do - but are they fulfilling? With sobriety on the rise and more people opting out of drinks with colleagues, consider something non-alcoholic or an activity that doesn’t centre around drinking. You might find a barista coffee cart at your office on a Monday morning raises spirits more than a pub trip.

These are just a few ideas on how to drive up your employee engagement in 2024: but the most important thing to keep in mind is that this isn't a one-and-done solution. Making change is about consistently rewarding your employees (with food or otherwise!), not about box ticking. Speak to us about planning our your entire year of events, ensuring that your teams feel heard, enriched, and of course full of delicious food and drink.