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Employee Engagement and Internal Branding: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

Author

Listed:
  • Kati Suomi

    (Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku)

  • Saila Saraniemi

    (University of Oulu)

  • Mervi Vähätalo

    (Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku)

  • Tomi J. Kallio

    (Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku)

  • Terhi Tevameri

    (The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment)

Abstract

This study examines the link between employee engagement and internal branding. It seeks to understand which antecedent factors healthcare professionals consider important for employee engagement and what kinds of implications this engagement-related information may have for internal branding. The study reviews the literature on employee engagement and internal branding and presents a conceptualisation of the linkage between the two concepts. The empirical portion content analyses more than 1200 answers to open questions to examine employee engagement in the case organisation, a large private healthcare organisation in Finland. The findings suggest the following eight antecedent factors to be particularly important for healthcare professionals’ employee engagement: organisational culture, reward, working environment, training, HR practices, reputation and values, communication, and physical environment. Based on the empirical and theoretical analyses, it can be said that the antecedent factors of employee engagement and elements of internal branding can be considered two sides of the same coin.

Suggested Citation

  • Kati Suomi & Saila Saraniemi & Mervi Vähätalo & Tomi J. Kallio & Terhi Tevameri, 2021. "Employee Engagement and Internal Branding: Two Sides of the Same Coin?," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(1), pages 48-63, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:crepre:v:24:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1057_s41299-019-00090-0
    DOI: 10.1057/s41299-019-00090-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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