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Southeast Asia - Laos
Gaining meaningful insights into employee engagement and well-being to address hidden concerns, reduce burnout, and move beyond outdated feedback tools.
BELONG — Employee Lifecycle Pulse Survey, Dimensions and Impact Analysis
Toyota Laos Co., Ltd. (TLAO) is the first Toyota distributor established in Lao PDR, authorized by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan. The Company was established in May 2018 as a joint venture between Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) in Japan, and Toyota Tsusho Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd (TTAP) in Singapore and Sokxay Chaleun Karnkhar Sole Co., Ltd. Their role is to work closely with the manufacturer and dealers to import and wholesale cars, brand enhancement, education and training of dealers’ staff.
Driven by the philosophy, “To be the most admired and respected company in Laos,” Toyota Laos is dedicated to delivering quality, enhancing safety, and providing customer satisfaction while respecting the environment.
Through its vision to “lead good mobility and enrich lives for Lao people,” Toyota Laos strives to exceed expectations and be a trusted partner to its customers. More than just selling cars, the company is committed to being a lifetime partner, working with its dealers to create a better life for all Lao people.
"The insights we’ve gained from EngageRocket have been invaluable. We can now monitor engagement in real-time, allowing us to quickly implement targeted action plans across departments and see a measurable impact on alignment, well-being, and team satisfaction.”
Aphideth MINGBOUPHA (Kuang), Human Resources and General Affairs Manager at Toyota Laos
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For two years, Toyota Laos’s Managing Director conducted one-on-one meetings with every team member, seeking direct feedback. However, they soon realized this approach wasn't yielding the desired results. While direct communication can be valuable, Toyota Laos encountered several obstacles:
• Limited Insight: Not all employees felt comfortable sharing honest feedback directly with the management team.
• Employee Burnout: Increasingly, Toyota Laos found that some employees were stretched thin, with managers often unaware of these struggles until after a resignation.
• Outdated Tools: The company had previously used a generic survey tool for collecting feedback, which proved to be labor-intensive and inadequate for comprehensive engagement surveys.
With these challenges in mind, Toyota Laos set out to achieve the following objectives:
• Gauge Employee Engagement Levels: Understand how engaged their employees truly were and uncover hidden concerns.
• Identify Key People Issues: Highlight any barriers to growth and productivity that could hinder Toyota Laos's success.
• Set Priorities for Action: Identify areas requiring immediate intervention and make sustainable improvements to employee well-being.
Toyota Laos knew it was time for a change, and after evaluating various options, they chose EngageRocket, an employee engagement platform that has since transformed how they monitor and improve employee satisfaction.
To overcome these challenges, Toyota Laos turned to EngageRocket, which has become a cornerstone of their employee engagement strategy. Since 2021, Toyota Laos has conducted three engagement survey cycles through EngageRocket, gaining invaluable insights each time. The platform offered a range of features that resonated strongly with the team:
• User-Friendly Interface: Both employees and managers found EngageRocket intuitive, which helped Toyota Laos achieve high survey participation rates.
• Flexible Reporting: With the ability to generate custom reports by department, team, or manager, Toyota Laos could effectively analyze data and focus on specific areas.
• Versatile Survey Options: Toyota Laos was able to launch various types of surveys, from general engagement to well-being checks, targeting specific departments and addressing unique challenges across the organization.
EngageRocket’s BELONG
Employee Engagement Surveys Analytics Platform
Since implementing EngageRocket, Toyota Laos has achieved impressive results:
• 100% Participation Rate: For three consecutive years, Toyota Laos has maintained a 100% employee participation rate, reflecting high trust and ease of use of the platform.
• Improved Engagement Scores: Over time, Toyota Laos has seen significant improvements in key engagement areas, such as “manager support” and “overall alignment” with company values.
• Areas of Strengths and High-Impact Areas for Improvement:
- Mission Alignment and Safety: Survey results indicate that employees feel a strong connection to Toyota Laos’s mission and appreciate the company’s commitment to workplace safety.
- Stress and Resource Challenges: While engagement has improved, the feedback highlighted the need for increased support and resources, particularly in managing stress and workload.
To address these insights, Toyota Laos introduced a range of targeted engagement activities:
1. Ongoing Initiatives: Department Enhancement Program
To address department-specific challenges, Toyota Laos launched the Department Enhancement Program, a data-driven initiative based on survey feedback. The program involves several key steps:
• Data Analysis: HR analyzes survey results at the department level, identifying areas requiring improvement.
• One-on-One Interviews: HR conducts in-depth interviews with employees in departments with low engagement scores to gain further insights.
• Collaborative Action Plans: HR works closely with department managers to develop tailored improvement plans and monitors progress over a six-month period.
For example, the Customer Service department, which initially reported low eNPS scores, has seen significant improvements through targeted action plans, including enhanced training, resource allocation, and ongoing support from HR.
2. Weekly Cross-Department Sports Activities:
These football, badminton, and jogging sessions were designed to promote team spirit, encourage work-life balance, and provide a platform for employees to socialize in a relaxed setting. By including voluntary participation and post-activity socializing, these events have become a popular way for employees to unwind and connect.
3. Monthly “T-Time T-Talk” Sessions:
In these sessions, employees share personal stories, celebrate birthdays, and participate in open Q&A discussions. With a group meal to follow, “Tea Talk” has helped foster a sense of community and belonging across departments. Employees feel more connected and valued, and the monthly gatherings provide a space to discuss both personal and work-related topics in a supportive environment.
4. Bi-Annual Power-Up Meetings:
These half-day company gatherings bring teams together to discuss goals, share feedback on initiatives, and participate in team-building activities. The feedback loops provided by these meetings allow Toyota Laos to continuously refine and improve their engagement strategies, ensuring that employees feel heard and valued.
Toyota Laos has identified 3 tips for maintaining a successful employee engagement program:
1) Follow-Up on Survey Results
By developing improvement plans based on survey feedback, Toyota Laos builds trust with employees, demonstrating that their voices are valued.
2) Department-Level Analysis
A comprehensive overview is essential, but deep-diving into department-level data allows Toyota Laos to tailor solutions to specific needs.
3) Continuous Feedback Loops
Ongoing feedback through follow-up surveys ensures that engagement activities are relevant and effective.
Through its partnership with EngageRocket, Toyota Laos has not only achieved a more engaged and aligned workforce but has also cultivated a workplace culture that prioritizes employee well-being. With actionable insights and a commitment to continuous improvement, Toyota Laos is well-equipped to maintain a thriving and motivated team, driving their success in the ever-evolving automobile industry.
