Is Organizing a Cricket Match Really Part of Employee Engagement? Let's Discuss

If you look at the definition of employee engagement, not a single definition would entail arranging cricket matches. However, having said that, arranging cricket matches is the responsibility of the HR department. My question is, how do you classify it?

There are various perspectives on the concept of "Employee Engagement." One of those perspectives is creating a stress-free environment among employees. This can be achieved by different techniques, one of which is Fun@work activities. The motto for arranging these activities is to give employees a break from their normal routine work.

Now, coming to your query, a cricket match is also a part of Fun@work activity as it gives employees a break and generates team spirit among them. Somewhere, it helps employees bond with each other, creating cohesiveness among groups. There is no doubt that a cricket match is an employee engagement initiative.

I hope the clarification above satisfies your doubt.

Cheers!

It depends, and I agree with Ashu. Basically, for me, employee engagement means engaging employees, management, and stakeholders of the organization with the mission, vision, and objectives of the organization in such a way as to increase productivity and growth. Now, do you see how this cricket match is going to meet this objective?

As Ashu mentioned, this will make the employees happy and stress-free, and they might value the organization more as it shows care for them. The fun may bring about positive changes in them. Considering this, the cricket match can be treated as an employee engagement activity, which indirectly engages them.

Well, the reason why cricket matches don't appear in definitions in books could be that companies in those days didn't arrange sports matches between employees when the book was written. Or cricket was not popular in the country where the author of that book lived. Or the author was more of a football fan or just ignorant.

Objective of Employee Engagement

The whole objective of employee engagement is to make employees feel a part of a living organization, not just a place where they come, spend time, do something, and get paid. A living organization would be a place I care about, filled with people I care about. That should be the objective of any employee engagement program—to promote that feeling, and sports would be an excellent means of achieving that.

Plan a day off (or even on the weekend), get employees playing, get the others to watch, and gauge the positive energy the whole exercise would generate. I'd, in fact, suggest that a cricket match would rank up there with the most effective employee engagement activities.

Arranging a cricket match or any program for the employees falls under the domain of HR. However, it cannot be successfully executed unless talented and resourceful employees come forward and take the initiative. This is a chance for an employee to showcase his/her leadership skills. The logistics and other details should be taken care of by HR. Even a program committee can be formed, including an HR representative and interested employees who want to conduct the event.

Dear Colleagues,
With due respect to some who have said that 'cricket' is an employee engagement activity and HR's involvement in this, I am slightly amused to hear that arranging cricket matches is a part of Employee Engagement, and it falls under the domain of the HR Department. I would categorically refuse to take that argument for the pure reason that 'cricket' is played mostly in the Commonwealth Nations, primarily because it emanated from Britain. If we see the practice of HR, it's global, and most other countries in the world do not play cricket. Soccer, in that way, is more global.

HR's Role in Employee Engagement
The second point that I wish to make is that HR should have the total and unconditional support of the management to make a real impact with their Employee Engagement programs. If this is the case, HR should engage and empower all the employees and involve them in devising activities that can keep people engaged outside of work. At best, HR manages to get clearances, especially on budgets that are earmarked for Employee Engagement Programs, and through the Administration Department, they should ensure things run smoothly. The next aspect for HR to consider in such cases would be to participate in such activities themselves, being a part of it, if not on the field, at least definitely off the field. They ought to be 'cheerleaders.'

Whatever I have said here is a compliment to what our professional colleagues Bodhisutra and Hope Govind have said and partially of what Sandeep Asappmedia has.

Dear nishumoni1610,

Understanding Employee Engagement (EE)

Employee Engagement (I will call it EE for the purpose of this discussion) can be viewed as a broad topic. It starts with engaging prospective employees and continues even after an employee leaves. Alternatively, it can be seen as a more micro concept, discussing each step and interaction with the employee.

HR Initiatives and Creativity

As far as taking various initiatives is concerned, it all depends on the HR Department's creativity. Creating EE initiatives is not budget-bound but only limited by creativity. For this reason, you may not find an exhaustive list of EE activities. In other words, arranging a match is one of many initiatives taken to engage employees. However, arranging a match will not ensure that your employees will be engaged, even less so, that all employees will be engaged. Please note that only those employees who have a good amount of interest in cricket will be excited by such an initiative. Also, EE is different from an engaged employee.

Regards,

Arranging a cricket match, any other sports activity, or some social/cultural event is a part of HR activity. Therefore, it should not be considered something that is outside the purview of the HR department. Instead, it inculcates event management skills, team-building skills, and provides employees with an opportunity to showcase their other extracurricular interests and skills.

Keep arranging such events as they also help in reducing work stress and offer entertainment opportunities to those who may not otherwise have such chances.

Regards,
AK Jain