Employee engagement task force launched

A new Employee Engagement Task Force was launched today at 10 Downing Street.

Members of the Government-sponsored, industry led Task Force – including the Chair, David MacLeod, Deputy Chair, Nita Clarke, and other key figures from the public and private sector – joined the Prime Minister and Business Minister, Edward Davey, for a breakfast roundtable discussion.

The aim of the Task Force is to ensure that a range of practical opportunities are made available for organisations wanting to learn about engagement. It will aim to share good practice, generate debate and offer support via a new website. The Task Force will also tackle key issues identified in the MacLeod Review such as the barriers to wider adoption of engagement, how to harness engagement for innovation and how to maintain morale through difficult challenges such as downsizing.

At the launch of the Task Force, Prime Minister, David Cameron, said:

“This taskforce has my full support because I know that it will work to bring together two of my government's top priorities – delivering sustainable growth across the UK, and coming up with new approaches to help people improve their wellbeing.

“I think the public and private sectors can learn a lot from each other. This initiative fits well with our agenda of devolved power and authority and shows how effective companies can be when they feel empowered. I am delighted that the Employment Engagement Taskforce has come together to develop practical ways to help all employers learn from the best, to break down barriers to engagement, and to raise the profile of this whole agenda.”

Employment Relations Minister, Edward Davey, said:

“Workers know better than anyone how the firm they work for can grow, innovate and succeed. For any business or organisation, a committed and involved workforce that are all pulling in the same direction is essential.

“This isn't just about ending ‘them and us’ attitudes. It's about a better way to work. Employee engagement is essentially about growth, so it's right the private sector should lead this taskforce.”

The Task Force will collaborate with academics, think tanks and practitioners. It will report back next year on the strategies it recommends that organisations should adopt to promote best practice and learning. The remaining members will be confirmed when the Task Force next meets in April.