CASE STUDY

Culture Change: From Disengagement
to Engagement

PROBLEM: Poor employee engagement survey scores

STARS, a California-wide organization who supplements the foster care system with counseling and education, had conducted an internal employee engagement survey across all of their worksites several years in a row. One worksite consistently received lower scores in comparison to other worksites, and the site’s Administrator knew her team was experiencing decreased morale, high turnover, and burn out. 

In partnership with the Administrator, we conducted our own engagement and climate assessment to understand the culture, and we interviewed a random selection of employees. Among the 44 survey questions, the average percentage of people who marked “satisfied” or “very satisfied” was 55%. For example, 60% of people said they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the information about how they were judged for performance, and 52% were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the way conflict among peers was resolved.

With only half of the workforce satisfied with work, the Administrator knew she needed support to make big changes.

engagement and climate assessment by Civility Partners
CLIMATE ASSESSMENT

SOLUTION: Action Team and Series of Short-Sprint Strategic Plans

With our help, the administrator put together an action team made up of employees from different levels and departments, and together we created a series of strategic plans to change the culture. The plans included a variety of actions, such as creating core values and programs that would bring them to life, training for managers on performance conversations, a process for accepting suggestions and reporting out on their status, quarterly all-hands meetings, and re-creating the onboarding program. The administrator also cleared her schedule for three days to have one-on-ones, and spent much time working closely with the supervisors to improve their management skills.

climate assessment positive results by Civility Partners

Key Results: Improved Survey Scores, Renewed Hope & A Path to Engaged Employees

After one year we conducted the assessment again. The responses improved on 100% of the survey questions, and across the 44 questions the average percentage of people who marked “satisfied” or “very satisfied” increased to 69% (up 14% from the previous year).

Several questions improved by more than 30%. For example, “I get the support and information I need from my supervisor to do my job well” increased from 50% to 87% (a 37% improvement from the previous year), and, “my supervisor creates a motivating and energizing workplace” increased from 37% to 71% (a 34% improvement). Regarding information about performance, mentioned above, scores increased to 81% (a 21% improvement) and scores on the question about conflict increased to 79% (a 27% improvement). Now, the administrator continues to work with her action team to sustain a positive culture.

climate assessment results by Civility Partners

READY TO BEGIN?

COACHING:
Coaching an
Abrasive Leader
CULTURE CHANGE:
Turning Around a
Toxic Environment Causing
Union Activity & a Failed Audit
TRAINING:
Giving an Emergency
Room the Tools to Resolve
Bullying and Gossip
Accessibility by WAH