Inc.: There’s an employee engagement problem, but there’s a fix
Lindner professor offers tips on improving remote employee connection, buy-in to company mission
Scott Dust, PhD, associate professor of management and Fealy Family Chair in Entrepreneurship, provided Inc. with advice for employers on navigating connection and engagement issues among remote employees.
Although employee engagement appears to be on the rise, according to recent Gallup survey data, buy-in to a company’s mission and vision among remote employees remains a concern. Solving this issue requires collaboration with employees and critical evaluation of a company’s needs, purpose and culture.
Scott Dust, associate professor of management and Fealy Family Chair in Entrepreneurship.
The first step, Dust tells Inc., is understanding “the why.” Dust encourages employers to ask why this lack of connection is an issue and what consequences it may be causing for the team and for the company. This allows employers to adapt their remediation strategies to the specific issue.
Additionally, to facilitate employee buy-in to the company mission, clarification may be needed on what the mission is, what it means and how it impacts an employee’s specific role. But even then, there may still be barriers to overcome.
“A lot of employees are super skeptical if you try to convince them that making a huge profit is benefiting the world in a significant way,” said Dust.
Other questions in evaluating the situation include asking if employees have the tools, resources and support needed for them to succeed.
“If you want employees to be high performers, and you want them to not leave the organization, maybe what they really want is flexibility,” advised Dust. “Maybe what they really want is leadership development."
Read more on addressing this issue head-on from Inc.
Featured image at top: An employee working remotely attends a virtual meeting. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
Innovation Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
What would expanded access to GLP-1s mean for the obesity rate?
December 4, 2025
The World Health Organization recently issued its first guidance on GLP-1 medications for adults with obesity — recommending long-term, continuous use when clinically appropriate. Malti Vij, MD, University of Cincinnati adjunct associate professor in the College of Medicine's Department of Internal Medicine, appeared on Cincinnati Edition on 91.7 WVXU News to discuss GLP-1s and what expanded insurance coverage of the medications might mean for Americans.
Cincinnati takes the lead in health care innovation
December 3, 2025
Health care innovation shone at the 1819 Venture Lab’s Demo Day, which showcased products that could revolutionize patient care and improve treatment experiences.
UC Cancer Center launches Rapid Access Program for lung cancer patients
December 3, 2025
Spectrum News highlighted a new University of Cincinnati Cancer Center Rapid Access Program to streamline care for patients with lung cancer.