{"id":13869,"date":"2023-03-15T10:58:48","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T10:58:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/?p=13869"},"modified":"2025-05-07T15:07:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T14:07:47","slug":"employee-engagement-key-boosting-retention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/employee-engagement-key-boosting-retention\/","title":{"rendered":"Why employee engagement is key to boosting retention"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/category\/people-leadership\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">People &amp; Leadership<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhy employee engagement is key to boosting retention\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2023-03-15T10:58:48+00:00\">15 March, 2023<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Why employee engagement is key to boosting retention\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/employee-engagement-key-boosting-retention\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/author\/timcooper\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/11\/tim-cooper.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" height=\"40\" width=\"40\" fetchpriority=\"high\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Tim Cooper<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Irish businesses are desperately trying to stop the Great Resignation from impacting their staff retention rates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Over the past 12 months, record numbers of people have quit their jobs. Traditional tactics for retaining workers are not cutting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">One way to improve the retention rates of your business is to rethink your employment engagement strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In this article, we look at how you can do that and share some advice on what you can put into place for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Here\u2019s what we cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#why\">Why businesses are struggling to retain their employees<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#how\">How employee engagement can help<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#is\">What is employee engagement and why is it important?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#to\">How to measure and track employee engagement<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#act\">How to act on the results<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#works\">What works \u2013 the evidence<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#boosting\">Boosting long-term engagement<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-78bb5fd1-148d-455b-82f8-e8195a056d03\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-78bb5fd1-148d-455b-82f8-e8195a056d03\"\n\t>Download your free copy of How to attract, engage and keep great people to help you build your team so your business can thrive<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why\">Why businesses are struggling to retain their employees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Several post-pandemic factors are impacting employee retention and businesses must act fast to keep their talent and avoid a drain on productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">A study by recruiter Robert Walters blamed the Great Resignation on a \u201cdisengagement crisis\u201d, with 60% of professionals feeling disconnected from their work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">High staff turnover, fewer people coming into the workplace, and a decline in team socials were the main drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Kate Ablett, head of people at commercial cleaning firm Mrs Buck\u00e9t, says the biggest challenge small businesses face with employee retention is increased competition for talent, something that also drives higher pay increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cYou are competing with bigger companies that workers perceive as safer options or that offer more benefits,\u201d she says. \u201cAlso the cost of living crisis has made small pay improvements more significant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Hannah Rathgeber, director, talent and culture at consultant matching platform Comatch, says another major challenge is that, post-pandemic, people are increasingly quitting to look for more meaningful work, and more individuality and flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">And that\u2019s in addition to those employers who are allowing their people to reduce their work hours so they have more leisure time, even if it means taking a pay cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cThe opportunities to work from home mean candidates are spoilt for choice in terms of job and employer,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cThis creates strong labour market competition and means employers need to create more generous and flexible offers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Mark Royal, senior partner and employee engagement specialist at consultant Korn Ferry, says you must continually re-win your employees\u2019 commitment in this environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cLoss of talent has significant financial implications,\u201d he says. \u201cSoft costs associated with lost knowledge, disrupted customer relationships, and strain on remaining employees can be equally significant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how\">How employee engagement can help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">While pay rises are tried and tested by employers to retain employees, they don\u2019t always provide the desired result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Robert Walters CEO Toby Fowlston says: \u201cDespite many employers giving record mid-year pay increases to increase engagement and retention, this is a short-term remedy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cThey need to focus on wider employee engagement, which should no longer be considered a \u2018nice to have\u2019 or an intangible HR concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cEngagement drives motivation, commitment and productivity, and employers need to appreciate its impact on the bottom line.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In addition, Korn Ferry research shows that confidence in an employer\u2019s ability to help staff achieve career goals is a critical determinant of retention. Advancement opportunities are often more constrained in smaller and flatter companies, says Mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">And coming back to employee engagement, you can develop compelling employee value propositions in other ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">For example, you can allow your employees to be close to the action, develop new skills in multiple roles, and have an outsize impact on customers and company performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This in turn can help you build the emotional commitment your people have to the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"is\">What is employee engagement and why is it important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Employee engagement encompasses all the reasons people stay with your business and give extra effort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Engagement approaches enhance your company\u2019s culture and how it feels to work there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Engaged employees feel involved, passionate, and committed to their work. This boosts retention, productivity and profitability. But a lack of engagement can decrease initiative, participation and output \u2013 and increase absenteeism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Mark Royal says: \u201cMany firms focus on enhancing engagement because, faced with economic and competitive challenges, they need to do more with less. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cThis makes employees\u2019 extra effort increasingly important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Scott Ward, partner of people, performance and development at consultant Ayming UK, says the Great Resignation is not just a short-term impact of the pandemic but the result of longer-term changes in employee expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">To address it, firms must show how their goals correlate with staff needs as part of their staff engagement approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">He adds: \u201cWithout this step, the Great Resignation is likely to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cWork satisfaction, feeling valued and understanding how employees contribute to collective ambitions have all become concerns. Engagement also comes from leadership having the intelligence, self-awareness and empathy to support collective success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-78bb5fd1-148d-455b-82f8-e8195a056d03\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-78bb5fd1-148d-455b-82f8-e8195a056d03\"\n\t>Download your free copy of How to attract, engage and keep great people to help you build your team so your business can thrive<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"to\">How to measure and track employee engagement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The goals of your employee engagement efforts may include to increase retention, employee satisfaction and net promoter scores (eNPS), and reduce absenteeism and leavers. You can track these using employee data from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Onboarding surveys<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Yearly engagement studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shorter more frequent pulse surveys<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feedback from appraisals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exit surveys.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Some elements of engagement are based on emotion, so your plans will likely include a mix of qualitative and quantitative measurements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Scott says it\u2019s also vital to include a feedback loop that communicates employees\u2019 thoughts as this shows you\u2019re listening, and it builds trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Kate recommends that you track and measure engagement through a wide range of regular mechanisms, including formal surveys, and informal catch-ups and socials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">She recommends making formal measurements, such as eNPS scores, action points on meeting agendas, including board meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Hannah says Comatch\u2019s engagement survey is guided by \u2018Say\u2019, \u2018Stay\u2019 and \u2018Strive\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">She says: \u201cSay is what employees say about us. Stay is how loyal and comfortable they feel in the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cStrive refers to the atmosphere in the company \u2013 such as how meaningful the work is, and how inspiring and motivating managers are. The survey is essential in retaining employees because it shows where the firm needs to improve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Another measure could be how much employees enjoy getting involved beyond work, such as organising smaller after-work events, says Hannah. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If they do this often, it speaks volumes for your team culture. Comatch also monitors attrition rate to add to its picture of engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/sage-business-cloud\/hr\/\">Cloud HR software<\/a> can be extremely useful in gathering and monitor these metrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">For example, it can be used to create employee engagement goals and benchmarks, pulse surveys, and engagement surveys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">And you can use it to set up one-to-one meetings with employees, easily share updates with your people, calculate your eNPS, and survey new starters and leavers as part of your onboarding and offboarding processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Mark also recommends surveying employees on how long they envision remaining with the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">He says: \u201cOur research shows this data effectively predicts turnover risks, so firms can develop forecasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cThey can also use survey data to identify causes of turnover, by comparing work experiences of more and less committed employees or by linking survey responses to subsequent turnover information to build predictive models.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"act\">How to act on the results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">You need such objective, quantitative data to help you act quickly and decisively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Hannah says the biggest mistake is to delay monitoring and action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cNever stop putting your ear to the ground, especially regarding employees and their well-being,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019ve found we must increasingly address employees\u2019 needs individually and flexibly \u2013 for example, in whether they want to work in the office, hybrid, remote or even remotely abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cWe also find team-building events help retention. After two years of pandemic, it\u2019s important people meet in person and share experiences regularly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Kate agrees on the importance of doing something and keeping it up \u2013 even if it\u2019s a small thing. \u201cBe timely as there\u2019s nothing worse than asking for feedback then doing nothing with it,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cIt is equally important to say why you can\u2019t do something, providing you have considered it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Mark says surveys can be effective even before questionnaires are completed as they allow organisations to show they are focusing on employee experiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">So it\u2019s critical to communicate the results of surveys or other engagement initiatives, and how you want to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-a847ddcb-db84-4257-a852-4bfd46e34acb\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-a847ddcb-db84-4257-a852-4bfd46e34acb\"\n\t>Download your free copy of How to attract, engage and keep great people to help you build your team so your business can thrive<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"works\">What works \u2013 the evidence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Mark says no single solution will work for every company or even department. However, Korn Ferry research has identified that, to drive long-term employee retention, most employees need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Confidence that the organisation is well-led and headed in the right direction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Positive opportunities to learn and grow<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To feel valued and see a balance between rewards and contribution<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Control and influence that matches their responsibilities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Efficient work processes and support from co-workers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Research by consultant McKinsey shows most employees who left their job in the past six months didn\u2019t feel valued by their organisation or manager, or they lacked a sense of belonging. Many said they wanted to work with people who trust and care for each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But employers\u2019 responses are missing the mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Most leaders want employees to be in the workplace four to five days a week to strengthen connectivity, said McKinsey. But returning to the office will not necessarily solve their problems. It could even backfire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Employee attitudes have shifted. Rather than forcing a return to the workplace, employers need to give their people reasons to want to come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">For example, one technology company addressed what employees missed most about in-person interactions while letting them do individual work from home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In the workplace, it combined the best of working from home and in person \u2013 creating soft spaces, such as a coffee shop with a casual ambience, and other communal areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">McKinsey says many ways to address engagement are social and should emphasise growth, engagement, and well-being equally. It recommends calling team members spontaneously to check how they are, creating more opportunities to collaborate, and giving each team member time to contribute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Your business should also nurture a human-centred employee experience that personalises relationships and avoids transactions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Up to 55% of employee engagement is driven by non-financial recognition, said McKinsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Employees receive many engagement tactics as transactional, commonplace, and impersonal. For example, giving everyone a one-off bonus risks hitting all the wrong notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Instead, you should find out what matters most to your teams, personalise recognition and appreciation, and provide opportunities to build relationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">These elements create a sticky, relational experience, compared to a more fleeting, mercenary one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Employees with a positive experience in these areas were eight times more likely to stay and four times more committed than those with a negative experience, said McKinsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"boosting\">Boosting long-term engagement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">While many small businesses acknowledge the disengagement crisis that has hit them since the pandemic, they frequently fail to address the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">They need to create a more holistic experience; promote flexibility, work-life balance, and emotional resilience; and offer easy ways for employees to seek help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Employee engagement has become indispensable to your long-term competitive advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But with supportive leaders building meaningful relationships \u2013 and using your unique advantages as a small business \u2013 you can transform work from something your people have to do into something they want to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">How to attract, engage and keep great people<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Discover how to find and retain the best talent so your business can keep growing and thriving.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-78bb5fd1-148d-455b-82f8-e8195a056d03\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1213042683-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1213042683-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join 1.5 million subscribers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-53abbdcc-410c-4c8c-bf97-ca5c6982eebd\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"999\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/z.5E3A0481_All-Uses.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/z.5E3A0481_All-Uses.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/employee-engagement\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmployee engagement\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/employee-retention\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmployee retention\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/hr-process\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHR processes\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-17773 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-technology-innovation tag-ai tag-artificial-intelligence tag-business-performance tag-business-planning tag-employee-engagement tag-security-fraud business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business business_type-accountants card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-01T12:11:21+01:00\">1 April, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">7 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/ai-cyber-security\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tAI Is accelerating familiar attacks: What\u2019s changing, and how leaders should respond\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tThe cyber threat hasn&#8217;t 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Here&#8217;s a practical 90-day plan to strengthen your defences before it matters.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-17757 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-free-guides-templates category-people-leadership category-trends-insights tag-ai tag-artificial-intelligence tag-business-intelligence tag-hr-process tag-hr-processes-medium-businesses tag-leading-people tag-managing-people tag-payroll business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/the-hr-and-payroll-leaders-report\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/03\/The-HR-Payroll-Leaders-Report-CTA-Image-684x384.jpeg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"A woman looks to camera with the Sage glow line in the background.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/03\/The-HR-Payroll-Leaders-Report-CTA-Image-684x384.jpeg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/03\/The-HR-Payroll-Leaders-Report-CTA-Image-768x518.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/03\/The-HR-Payroll-Leaders-Report-CTA-Image-1200x810.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 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0 1-1.25-1.25v-7c0-.699.551-1.25 1.25-1.25h3a.76.76 0 0 0 .537-.216.74.74 0 0 0 .223-.535.76.76 0 0 0-.223-.535.75.75 0 0 0-.537-.216z\" \/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-03-10T10:31:20+00:00\">10 March, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">5 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tThe HR and Payroll Leaders&#8217; Report: How 1,000 professionals are adapting to change\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-17111 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-people-leadership category-trends-insights tag-business-planning tag-employee-benefits tag-hr-process tag-hr-processes-medium-businesses tag-looking-after-your-employees tag-my-future-fund-autoenrolment tag-pensions business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/auto-enrolment-payroll\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/03\/Sage_BrandShootNC_Feb2024_HR-Professionals_2665-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Two colleagues discussing switching payroll\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/03\/Sage_BrandShootNC_Feb2024_HR-Professionals_2665-684x384.jpg 684w, 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srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1192884896-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1192884896-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1192884896-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-30T10:42:44+00:00\">30 January, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">6 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tPayroll changes for Irish employers to know about in 2026\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-15303 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations tag-business-finances tag-hr-process tag-hr-processes-medium-businesses tag-my-future-fund-autoenrolment tag-payroll tag-pensions business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business business_type-accountants\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/auto-enrolment-faqs-workplace-pensions\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-643927002-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-643927002-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-643927002-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-643927002-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-02T12:27:26+00:00\">2 January, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tMy Future Fund FAQs: Answers to questions on workplace pensions in Ireland\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want to improve employee retention rates of your business? Rethink your employment engagement strategies. We cover how you can do that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":699,"featured_media":8428,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[164],"tags":[119,120,133],"business_type":[5],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[232],"imagine_tag":[325,204,327,205,230],"coauthors":[421],"class_list":["post-13869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people-leadership","tag-employee-engagement","tag-employee-retention","tag-hr-process","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-ie","author_name":"Tim Cooper","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1254783885.jpg","imagine_tags":{"325":"Employee engagement","204":"HR and Payroll","327":"HR processes","205":"HR software","230":"Small business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice Ireland","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/699"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13869\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/8428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13869"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=13869"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=13869"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=13869"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=13869"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=13869"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=13869"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=13869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}