ISO Publishes New Standards for Employee Engagement

ISO 23326:2022 provides “guidance on creating a mutually beneficial environment that encourages everyone to be connected with the objectives, purpose and values of the organization, and for the organization to support its people in a manner which provides quality work and opportunities for development and professional fulfilment.”

 

These new guidelines published by ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, provide “guidance to facilitate a common understanding of, and maintain consistency in, policies, processes and practices that promote a collaborative approach between organizations, employees and, where they exist, their recognized representatives to support employee engagement.”

 

According to the ISO announcement, “This dual focus on organizational goals and on enhancing the individual experience at work can be correlated with sustainable performance and is critical to the success of any organization and the well-being of people in the workplace.” 

 

The guidelines address “creating a mutually beneficial environment that encourages everyone to be connected with the objectives, purpose and values of the organization, and for the organization to support its people in a manner which provides quality work and opportunities for development and professional fulfilment. Organizations can use the guidance to determine what is practical or material to the organization’s internal and external context regardless of its size, type, structure, nature, or complexity, whether in the public, private or voluntary sector.”

 

The guidelines are designed to apply “to anyone who works for or on behalf of an organization. The guidance contained in this document is not intended to infringe upon national labor laws, established collective agreements or collective bargaining.” The report states that the potential benefits of employee engagement can include but are not limited to:

 

• Individual satisfaction with work and job quality;

• Reduced absenteeism;

• Improved employee retention;

• Improved customer service;

• Greater product or service innovation;

• Improved organizational performance and sustainability;

• Improved productivity.

 

The guidelines reportedly are designed to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and is intended to be used by:

 

• Organizational governance bodies and leaders;

• People with HR expertise;

• Managers;

• Entrepreneurs;

• Individuals in the workforce and their representatives;

• Professional and trade bodies;

• Academics and other professionals interested in employee engagement;

• Developers of related standards.

 

Click here to purchase the standard. It’s 58 Swiss francs, or about $63.