Gallery Presentation International Positive Psychology Association 7th IPPA World Congress 2021

Engagement in times of Covid-19 (#345)

Mario Toledo 1 , Alma Mercado 1
  1. Institute for wellbeing and happiness , Universidad Tecmilenio, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México

One of the main challenges organizational leaders deal with, is how to keep high-level of engagement within their organizations. In Mexico, only 12% of the workforce reports to be engaged in their work, while 60% are not engaged and 28 % are actively disengaged (Gallup, 2013). This has a strong relation with the constant increase in levels of stress and "burnout". Data provided by the Government of Mexico (2020), show that 75% of Mexicans suffer from fatigue due to work stress, which generates negative consequences at emotional, cognitive, physiological and behavioral level.

This intervention took place with one division of a Mexican bank that manages people´s pensions.  As a result of the pandemic generated by the covid-19 virus, many people in Mexico have lost their jobs, so they are in need of using part of their pension. This situation generates an overwhelming demand for the company employees; they have to deal with scared, angry and frustrated clients, which have result in a decreased moral and engagement level.

As a solution, we developed a three week online training program built within a framework based on the three elements of engagement: vigor, dedication and absorption (Salanova & Schaufeli, 2009). The program aims to provide coping strategies for the bank employees so they can thrive trough this adverse situation. A sample of 91 of participants showed positive results in terms of the participant’s level of engagement, 96% of the participants reported to have higher levels of energy (vigor), identified themselves  with their company (dedication) and experienced flow during they workday (absorption). Further results from the rest of the company will be presented and discussed.

  1. Gallup (2013). Report: Estate of the Global Worqplace. Employee Egagement Insights for Bussiness Leaders Worlwide.https://www.gallup.com/workplace/238079/state-global-workplace-2017.aspx
  2. Salanova, M., y Schaufeli, W. (2009). El engagement en el trabajo: Cuando el trabajo se convierte en pasión. http://www.want.uji.es/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2009_Salanova-Schaufeli.pdf
  • Keywords: Flow, Leadership/Management, Meaning and Purpose, Positive emotions
  • Select your presentation sub-category: Intensive program analysis and description