Employee Engagement Program

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Dakota County is working to support employee engagement on many different fronts. Engaged and informed employees represent the most important resource in an organization. They perform at consistently high levels, use their talents and strengths at work every day, drive innovation, and deliver great service to residents. Additionally, and just as important, they want to stay with Dakota County and encourage others to join us. The County’s approach to employee engagement is not so much a single program as it is a broader strategy to enhance connections between people, mission and values that ultimately translate to commitment and service to the residents of Dakota County. Those strategies include focusing on connecting and supporting employees through communication, listening carefully to employees through multiple channels, and emphasizing employee growth through learning and development opportunities. This is particularly important now in the post-pandemic environment of high turnover and workforce shortages, and with many employees working in remote or hybrid environments. The County is making a larger investment in staff than it has previously. The County’s overall goal is to help all employees feel connected, welcomed, valued and informed enterprise-wide which, in turn, creates a stronger connection to the organization and the critical services it provides to Dakota County residents.