The timing couldn’t be better for the release of the new white paper, entitled “Engagement,” from the Site (formerly the Society of Incentive and Travel Executives) International Foundation. With stories of layoffs and demotivated workers making the headlines daily, never has employee engagement been more critical for companies.

The white paper differentiates between discretionary effort—the extra effort given by an employee who is satisfied with his or her job—and engagement, which is a combination of many factors, including job satisfaction, empowerment, the opportunity to advance, and others.

According to the white paper, 85 percent of engaged employees intend to stay with their current employer, raising an employee’s engagement can increase performance by 20 percent, and, conversely, companies with low levels of engagement have seen a 32 percent decrease in productivity.

The new white paper and a list of other Site International Foundation research can be found in the “library” at siteglobal.com.