Most companies already understand that employee engagement is critical to overall organizational success, and many are actively trying to boost levels of engagement among their employees. So why are employee engagement levels at an all-time low? Some experts suggest that employee engagement programs simply don’t work. Management can’t buy engagement, nor can it bully employees into getting on board with punitive sanctions for poor attitudes and performance. Engagement must be facilitated, but never forced. It must grow organically. So how can companies build an environment in which engagement can flourish? One of the first ways is by being selective about who is hired. Attitudes are difficult to change, so it’s important that employees are happy and well-adjusted when they come on board. A negative attitude can be toxic and kill the engagement of other employees. Work ethic also needs to be taken into account. Hiring individuals who can leave their baggage at the door and take responsibility for themselves and the work they do is critical to the success of an organization, as well as building a culture of engagement.