In 2011, the National Initiative for Service Excellence (NISE) measured the levels of employee engagement in Barbados and discovered about 30% of Barbadian workers are actively engaged, which means they work with a passion, are innovative and drive their organisation forward.

Unfortunately, another 30% of employees are actively disengaged, which means they are unhappy at work, feel no association with the organisation and they consistently undermine the work of their engaged coworkers.

With just three out of every 10 employees being identified as engaged, the economy is basically functioning on only 30% manpower.

Regrettably, NISE discovered the same phenomenon manifested itself in the church – an attempt was made to reach other denominations like Closed Brethren, Hindu or members of the Islamic community but only those seen in the video came forward.

NISE made known their intentions to increase levels of engagement and to ensure sustainable development in both the workplace and the church, it is essential that both entities jointly address this phenomenon. To this end, NISE just held a discussion on increasing the levels of engagement in the church and especially their community efforts.

The discussion held at the Sir Hugh Springer Auditorium of the Barbados Workers’ Union in Harmony Hall included the Reverend Joel Cumberbatch of the Wesleyan Holiness Church on Whitepark Rd, the Rev. Dr Lucille Baird of the Mt Zion’s Missions International and The Rev. Canon Dr Geoffrey Mayers, Rural Dean of St John’s Deanery while Moderation was chaired by Monsignor Vincent Harcourt Blackett of the Roman Catholic Church.