Workplace Experiences Survey results and administration

Employee engagement is about creating and sustaining a workplace where individuals feel valued, motivated, connected to their roles, and to UBC’s goals and mission. When faculty and staff feel invested in their roles and empowered to share their insights, they are better positioned to contribute to the productivity and overall innovation of UBC.  

“It’s about how people feel about their jobs, working conditions, managers, and valued contributions,” explains Marjorie Lewis, Executive Director, Talent Management with VPHR. “Feedback from engagement surveys provide leaders with a clear snapshot of how our staff and faculty experience the workplace. Most importantly, people want to find purpose and meaning in their work. This is what drives employee engagement”.  

The feedback gathered through successful employee engagement activities, like the Workplace Experiences Survey, encourages employees to share their opinions especially as they see transformation of their feedback into action. 

“From conversations around the work environment or department-level to inform strategy decisions, the insights gained inform collective decision making at all levels,” says Alex Bayne, Managing Director, Human Resources at UBC Okanagan. 

Past engagement activities have already led to impactful initiatives, such as the launch of the UBC Hybrid Work Program in 2022 and increased opportunities for faculty and staff in the Okanagan to connect in person, fostering a stronger sense of community. 

Senior leaders can turn employee feedback into actionable change by identifying the key themes and setting measurable goals to enhance engagement. Here are some strategies to consider: 

• Share results with staff during meetings, townhall, leadership forums 
• Establish an employee engagement working group to address department/unit level concerns 
• Focus on 1 to 3 priorities that will resonate with the entire team 
• Make meaningful engagement of a Team Goal that helps foster team accountability and commitment 

“UBC is a complex organization with a diverse set of roles and functions. Engaging faculty and staff helps ensure everyone has a voice in sharing their experiences and perspectives,” says Cam Gray, Interim Associate Vice President, Human Resources.