Employee engagement must be priority in organizations, says Minister Dunn

State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Dr. Norman Dunn, says that employee engagement must become priority in every organization. “We are living in a new normal, therefore, employee engagement must be placed at the centre of our aspirations, as a country, to increase productivity, economic growth and development,” said Minister Dunn.

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation’s (JBDC) Employee Engagement Seminar at JBDC Incubator and Resource Centre, Marcus Garvey Drive, Kingston, on Thursday, October 8. Minister Dunn noted that “we are now operating in a COVID world where there are reduced work forces, increased revenue targets, work is no longer a place, and there are uncertainties as it relates to what is ahead”.

He further stated that employers must re-engage their employees as they try to return to some sense of normalcy. “Leaders have to radically rethink how they go about delivering their organization’s strategy, and question whether the current strategy is still relevant in this new normal.  Now more than ever, we have to have greater employee engagement.  An organization with high employee engagement is expected to outperform those with low employee engagement. It is through training that we empower our employees and are able to get their engagement.  This I consider to be a key role of the JBDC, and they have been doing a great job in the micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector,” Minister Dunn stated.                    

He added that we have to increase employee engagement as low levels of productivity and disengagement will negatively impact the bottom line of any organization and, ultimately, national economic growth. In the meantime, Chief Executive Officer, JBDC, Valerie Veira, noted that the engagement of a vibrant and productive workforce is critical to the overall growth and development of the Jamaican economy. 

She noted that when we have motivated employees who are properly engaged according to their special strengths and natural talents, the result is a win-win situation not only for businesses, but also for the Jamaican economy. “Leadership has to be in the moment as things are changing every moment.  As the leader, no matter the level you are at,   you have to be alive, you have to be well , you have to be that medicine  that can keep your team engaged  that make them want to produce at their best”, she added.

The seminar, held under the theme, ‘Lead in the Moment:  Empower. Pivot. Engage,’ will run over the period, October 8-29, 2020.

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