City of Jersey Village, TX

Jersey Village Employee Engagement Journey to Becoming a Top Workplace

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Employee engagement is a cornerstone of excellent service delivery. Local government employees who are more engaged at work provide better community services and foster innovation within the workplace. The City of Jersey Village experienced this firsthand during its Employee Engagement Journey. When the project started, employee engagement was at a low point and many staff members felt disconnected, lacked a clear sense of purpose, and faced ineffective communication which made jobs more difficult. As a result, the city was faced with low staff morale, limited collaboration opportunities, and employee retention challenges.

Jersey Village leadership knew that something had to change, and the change needed to be actively demonstrated by senior leaders in order for full staff adoption to take place. After obtaining buy-in from leadership, the organization embarked on a full scale culture change focused on employee engagement and workplace environment enhancement. A vision for the new Jersey Village was established and engagement initiatives such as training, team building, and an employee engagement committee were developed to meet the vision. Promoting transparency and continuous improvement allowed for successful deployment of the initiatives as employees were able to provide feedback in real time and see their concerns addressed and suggestions implemented.

In addition to engagement, promotion of work-life balance and well-being initiatives such as flexible schedules, wellness challenges, and mental health resources were made available to employees to allow them to meet both personal needs and professional responsibilities. Ultimately, this allowed for a healthier workplace which increased job satisfaction. Finally, the city implemented a recognition program which acknowledged employee contributions and contributed to a sense of belonging.

The results of these initiatives are significant. Not only was there a noticeable shift in organizational culture and workplace satisfaction, but the employee engagement category rose to 81% satisfaction in 2024 which was an increase over previous surveys and exceeded other local governments in the area. The consistent participation in engagement programs created a sense of community among employees which translated into higher retention rates, increased collaboration and improved service delivery for residents. The City of Jersey Village received a Top Workplace Award from the Houston Chronicle in 2022 and 2024. The recognition showcased the city’s work to the broader community and served as a testament to the effectiveness of the Employee Engagement Journey.

Jersey Village’s program is a success due to its strategic approach. With the whole organization adapting to the new way of work and the new initiatives implemented the strategy is set up to be sustainable and effective now and in the future. These sustained efforts must become part of the organization and not act simply as one-time initiatives used as a quick solution to a larger program. The culture change must be continuously reinforced. The city’s success demonstrates that strategic leadership in governance extends beyond policy implementation. It involves creating an environment where employees thrive which ultimately leads to a high-performing organization that provides effective and responsive government services for all.