Why Your Employee Engagement Survey Should Measure Digital Culture

When I was working in consulting, I noticed a troubling trend.

My team and I were brought on to address provider burnout in the healthcare industry. Our user interviews revealed that their relationship with technology—particularly their charting in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR)—was one of their most significant points of contention. While the EMRs offer numerous benefits, they also increase capacity for connectivity after hours. This additional responsibility led most interviewees to take work home to update records they couldn’t complete during the day. 

The experience of these providers serves as a microcosm of the experience felt by nearly all screen-bound workers over the past years. 

The advent of new technology (tools, programs, and software) has increased the capacity for connectivity at all hours; how we work has completely changed.

Consider this: since 2020, the daily average screen time for employees has increased by five hours compared to pre-pandemic levels. And despite care packages, meditation apps, and workout subscriptions, companies couldn’t compensate for an underlying culture that neglected to address longer working hours, constant connectivity, and an “always on” digital culture. As a result, 68% of Millennials and 81% of Gen Z employees who left their jobs between 2020-2022 cited mental health reasons exacerbated by “overwhelming” and “unsustainable work.” This marked an 18% and 6% increase, respectively, in just two years. 

As I witnessed this fast-growing discontent, a counterintuitive truth emerged: many of the most well-established employee engagement surveys miss the mark…

They don’t adequately measure an organization’s digital culture.

‍

The Missing Metric in Employee Engagement

We’ve heard it said that ‘culture eats strategy for lunch,’ but I’ve found that most companies do not consider the role of their digital culture in the employee experience. We believe it to be their ‘Missing Metric.’ 

‍

‍

Most companies today are focused on reducing employee turnover, addressing burnout, and increasing employee net satisfaction (net promoter scores). They recognize the issue. However, the diagnostics they use to resolve the root issue are outdated. A few of the most well-known and respected company engagement and recognition programs have been around for decades; ironically, the questions asked of employees in the 1990s have not changed since then. 

However, consider how much of an employee's work life has changed in the past five years alone. Imagine that your work computer is running slowly. Something is bogging it down. You take your laptop to the help desk to run a diagnostic. However, to your dismay, the diagnostic being run is from 1994! How can you expect to get to the root cause of the issue adequately?

It’s time we bring our satisfaction surveys into the 21st century. 

Specifically, they must account for how technology improves and impairs the employee experience—termed Digital Culture.

Stated plainly, Digital Culture is Workplace Culture. This is true for anyone working with, through, and via technology (hybrid, remote, or in-person). 

‍

Framing the Opportunity

We’ve found that Digital Culture is the missing metric in most employee engagement strategies. 

(And yes - if you haven’t guessed by now, my company has created the first employee engagement survey to measure digital culture specifically). 

Consider findings from a January 2024 survey. We took our 10-question Digital Balance Index and aligned it with scientifically validated measurements for burnout, employee net promoter score (E-NPS), and Mental health. 

The results showed that this index - this measurement of digital culture and balance - accounted for:

• 22% of an organization’s burnout
• 12% of employee depression
• Up to 50% of e-NPS 

This means that even if a company is taking steps to improve these areas through ~more traditional~ employee wellbeing initiatives, they are severely falling short by not specifically addressing the impact of digital culture on the employee experience.

To address it, one must first adequately measure it. 

That’s why clients using the Digital Balance Index to measure employee engagement are gaining a competitive advantage over their peers. 

‍

‍

Digital Wellness: The New Frontier in Employee Engagement

Just as considering employee mental health has become a fundamental aspect of workplace wellness, digital wellness is the next crucial frontier. The market is rapidly recognizing the importance of balancing digital engagement with well-being, and companies that get ahead of this curve will lead the way in fostering healthier, more productive work environments.

We’d love to hear from you if you believe your workplace offers an exceptional culture, particularly for screen-based workers. What are you doing to promote Balance, Belonging, and Boundaries in your organization?

Learn more about our employee engagement and recognition program.