Further to the publication, earlier this year, of International Standard ISO 23326 ‘Human Resource Management — Employee Engagement Guidelines’, a proposal has been put forward for a new technical specification (TS) to provide metrics in support of its implementation.
The proposed TS, which would allow organisations to actually “measure” employee engagement, intends to cross-reference metrics according to activity, such as input, process, output and outcome. The proposal (ISO/NP TS 30438) is currently under ballot in ISO/TC 260 ‘Human Resource Management’ until October.
The ETUC is very concerned with the proposal, as it risks leading to self-exploitation of employees and bring harmful effects to their well-being and health. It further entails the risk of organisations making the distinction between “good” and “bad” employees, solely based on the priorities and interests of the organisation.
This clearly constitutes, in the organisation’s view, an example of a worker’s related issue that must not be addressed in a technical document developed by a private organisation. Employee engagement should be discussed through social dialogue and cannot be used as an instrument for measurement.
For more information, please contact Natalia GIORGI at ETUC
Giovanni COLLOT
gcollot@cencenelec.eu
