SEATTLE, July 15, 2013 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Experiencing meaning and purpose in their work, employees in Christian organizations are witnessing higher levels of engagement than last year. "Our research indicates engagement levels of employees have improved to 53.6% vs. 47% a year ago" according to Al Lopus, President of the Best Christian Workplaces Institute. "This improvement indicates the importance of employee engagement has grown since the financial recession."
In contrast, a recent Gallup survey indicates employee engagement of the U.S. workforce (largely secular) is relatively unchanged, with only 30% engaged, leaving 70% not engaged or actively disengaged in their work. The gap between the engagement levels of Christian and secular workplaces reinforces a growing body of research supporting the benefits of spirituality in the workplace.
Engaged employees have high levels of energy and are enthusiastically immersed in their work with a higher level of investment in their role. Higher employee engagement is a lever for organizational performance. BCWI's research indicates that high levels of engagement results in greater levels of organizational outcome, such as revenue growth and retaining highly qualified people.
The BCWI survey, now in its second decade, has surveyed over 125,000 employees in 550 organizations in the US, Canada and Australia. One hundred and ten organizations participated in the survey during the past twelve months with 55 achieving Certification for 2013:
Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries – Birmingham, AL
Alliance Defending Freedom – Scottsdale, AZ
American Bible Society – New York, NY
Apartment Life – Hurst, TX
Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) – Orlando, FL
Belhaven University – Jackson, MS
Bethany Community Church –St. Catharines, ON
Briarcrest Christian School – Memphis, TN
Camp Eagle – Rocksprings, TX
CapinCrouse LLP – Greenwood, IN
Celebration Baptist Church – Tallahassee, FL
Celebration Baptist Kinderschool –Tallahassee, FL
Central Baptist Church – Sioux Falls, SD
Central Christian Church – Mesa, AZ
The Christian and Missionary Alliance – Colorado Springs, CO
Christian Veterinary Mission – Seattle, WA
Church of the Rock – Winnipeg, MB
Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO) – Pittsburgh, PA
Community Bible Study – Colorado Springs, CO
CRISTA Broadcasting – Seattle, WA
CRISTA Camps – Seattle, WA
CRISTA Ministries – Seattle, WA
CRISTA Senior Living – Seattle, WA
Crossroads Christian Church – Corona, CA
English Language Institute/China – Ft. Collins, CO
Evangelical Christian School – Cordova, TN
Faithbridge Church – Spring, TX
Fielder Church – Arlington, TX
Grapevine Faith Christian School – Grapevine, TX
Heritage Christian Academy – Overland Park, KS
InterVarsity Press – Westmont, IL
Joni and Friends – Agoura Hills, CA
King's Schools – Seattle, WA
KSBJ – Humble, TX
Lake Ann Camp – Lake Ann, MI
Legacy Christian Academy – Frisco, TX
Lenawee Christian School – Adrian, MI
Lutheran Church Canada Alberta/British Columbia District – Edmonton, AB
Mission India – Grand Rapids, MI
MOPS International – Denver, CO
The Navigators – Colorado Springs. CO
Olivet Nazarene University – Bourbonnais, IL
Pathway Church – Wichita, KS
Rescue Mission – Tacoma, WA
Samaritan Ministries International – Peoria, IL
Santa Fe Christian Schools – Solana Beach, CA
Seattle Urban Academy – Seattle, WA
Southridge Community Church – St. Catharines, ON
Upward Unlimited – Spartanburg, SC
Vineyard Church – Kansas City, MO
Wheaton Academy – West Chicago, IL
Willow Creek Community Church – Chicago, IL
World Concern – Seattle, WA
World Harvest Mission – Jenkintown, PA
WorldServe Ministries (Canada) – White Rock, BC
To earn the distinction as a Best Christian Workplace, organizations participate in the Best Christian Workplace Institute's employee engagement survey and meet predetermined standards of excellence. The survey covers issues such as: job satisfaction, commitment, Christian witness, supervisory effectiveness, work satisfaction, personal growth and development, management effectiveness, customer/supporter satisfaction, teamwork, communications and pay and benefits. Employees confidentially respond to more than 50 questions addressing these topics.
Best Christian Workplaces Institute's purpose is to serve faith-based organizations by creating processes of discovery, facilitating organizational effectiveness and encouraging practices that build healthy workplaces. BCWI is a non-profit research based organizational and human resources consulting firm based on Mercer Island, Washington.
