20 Cutting Edge Employee Engagement Strategies for 2024

In an ever-changing corporate landscape, employee engagement continues to symbolize a constant need for every organization that seeks to excel. In 2024, the focus on employee engagement strategies has never been higher. 

This article offers a comprehensive analysis of what employee engagement is and why it is so important. We will explore 20 cutting-edge strategies that organizations can use to boost employee engagement levels. Ultimately, our aim is to unlock and share what promise to be the best practices for engaging employees in 2024.

But first, we will look at recent research findings that show flexibility is a key factor in increasing employee engagement. This is an excellent starting point when analyzing effective employee engagement strategies to see how to improve yours. 

Work Flexibility Leads to Higher Employee Engagement

Achievers Workforce Institute’s The future is flexible 2023 Engagement and Retention Report indicates that 61% of employees have one foot out the door! Based on a survey of more than 5,000 people worldwide, it also shows that work flexibility is ranked as an equally important reason for career progression. This is a revealing statistic since career progression has been cited as the primary reason for employees leaving for the past five years — every year since Achievers launched its annual engagement and retention research program. Another enlightening statistic is that when asked why they made their last job change, 81% of employees said they were job hunted. The rest were head-hunted.

Additionally, the report shows that an increasing number of employees are demanding “a deeply engaging work experience.” They want to feel welcome, understood, valued and accepted, consistently supported, and to feel a sense of belonging to the organization.

These compelling findings serve as a call to action for business leaders to empower their employees in co-creating their work environment. This involves attentive listening and the development of work policies aligned with employees’ desires and needs. Recognizing that flexibility holds diverse meanings for different individuals, leaders across various industries and regions must delve into defining its specifics for their unique workforce. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, drawing insights from research and adopting best practices allows organizations to establish a work environment conducive to the success of each employee.  

What is Employee Engagement?

Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2023 Report is a wake-up call to many employers. Presented by Gallup as “The voice of the world’s employees,” it shows how critically lacking employee engagement is globally. We’ve quoted this statistic in previous Cerkl articles, but its significance cannot be under-rated.

“We estimate that low engagement costs the global economy $8.8 trillion. That’s 9% of global GDP — enough to make the difference between success and a failure for humanity.” Gallup   

The Harris Poll/Grammarly Business The State of Business Communication 2023 report reveals that while organizations are communicating more, the quality and effectiveness of business communication has decreased. It states that “miscommunication is rampant,” and that poor communications hampers efficiency, productivity, and the generation of revenue. 

“But the data shows that when confidence in communication is high, communication can drive greater employee engagement and productivity.” Grammarly Business 

The fact is that employee engagement is a vital aspect of thriving company culture and overall business success. But do business leaders, internal communicators, and HR professionals have a true understanding of what meaningfully engaging employees entails? The data indicates a negative response to what is a vital question. 

So, what exactly is employee engagement? 

Understanding Employee Engagement 

It refers to the emotional connection and commitment employees feel towards their workplace and its goals. When employees are engaged, they are increasingly enthusiastic, dedicated, and driven to contribute positively to their organization’s success.

Gallup’s definitive Q¹² Survey states that organizations with highly engaged employees experience 81% lower absenteeism, up to 43% higher turnover, and 66% better well-being (net thriving employees) than organizations with low engagement.

It’s not just about employee satisfaction or happiness – it transcends these measures. It’s about employees feeling passionate about their jobs, understanding the company’s vision, and their role in achieving it, and being motivated to put in the extra effort to make a difference.

In simpler terms, employee engagement indicates the degree to which an employee feels committed to the organization and its objectives, both professionally and emotionally. Employees who are effectively engaged will display high levels of job satisfaction, exhibit high productivity with less supervision, and align their personal success with the company’s success.

Factors Affecting Employee Engagement

There are many factors that affect levels of employee engagement within organizations. Let’s look at some of these more closely.

• Leadership style
  The leadership style an organization adopts plays a significant role when it comes to the engagement of employees. Leaders who provide opportunities for team members to voice their opinions, offer constructive feedback and show genuine appreciation, encourage a higher level of engagement.
• Work environment
  A positive work environment where team members are motivated, recognized, and appreciated can significantly improve employee engagement. Factors such as physical space, team dynamics, and company culture play an essential role here.
• Career development opportunities
  Offering career paths and opportunities for professional development is vital for engaging employees further. It shows an investment in their growth, leading to increased job satisfaction and dedication to the company.
• Employee wellbeing
  Offering flexible work hours, encouraging work-life balance, and promoting holistic well-being all contribute to enhanced employee engagement.
• Effective communication
  Open dialogue and transparent communication from the leadership team to the employees enhance trust and loyalty, resulting in higher engagement.

Understanding these factors paves the way for creating an effective employee engagement strategy that will foster a positive company culture and an increasingly motivated workforce.

Benefits of High Employee Engagement

High employee engagement offers numerous benefits both for employees and the organization as a whole. Let’s take a closer look at some of them:

• Increased productivity
  Engaged employees are motivated to perform better and work efficiently, resulting in increased productivity.
• Higher retention
  Engaged employees are satisfied employees! They are less likely to quit, which decreases turnover costs, and increases employee retention.
• Improved customer service
  Engaged employees are likely to provide exceptional service to customers, which subsequently leads to higher customer satisfaction.
• Better teamwork
  Engaged employees cooperate and collaborate efficiently, creating a cohesive and harmonious team dynamic.
• Boosted profitability
  High engagement levels directly impact the bottom line. Engaged employees tend to enhance business performance, generating higher profits.

Having highlighted the benefits of high employee engagement, it is imperative for companies to continually strive to maintain or improve employee engagement levels. Following the right employee engagement strategy can dramatically improve employee commitment and connection to their work and your organization.

What is an Employee Engagement Strategy?

Simply put, an employee engagement strategy is a comprehensive plan designed and implemented by an organization to promote and enhance the emotional and psychological relationship of employees with their work, colleagues, and the organization itself. A good strategy will revolve around holistic and effective measures that develop a constructive and positive work culture. The aim is to drive motivation, improve job satisfaction, and produce exceptional performance outcomes. It is not just a quick-fix solution, but a long-term commitment made by companies to invigorate and nurture their human capital.

Gallagher’s State of the Sector 2022/23 Internal Communication and Employee Experience report states that 51% of survey respondents prioritize engaging teams around purpose and strategy. Additionally, 35% focus on developing or refreshing their internal comms strategies. Another priority, though lower than these two, is to adapt communication channel strategies to meet hybrid working and future work trends. The latter includes flexible working and new working processes that might emerge. 

The Grammarly Business report mentioned above states that 88% of business leaders are strongly or “somewhat” considering creating new, more effective processes or strategies for organizational communication and engagement. The report emphasizes that investing in the ability of employees to communicate well imbues confidence, efficiency, and responsiveness into everyday work. Furthermore, “Effective communication turns interactions into relationships and abstract business strategy into shared motivation.” 

Core Concept of an Employee Engagement Strategy

Core concepts of any employee engagement strategy are not just about keeping employees busy. They make employees feel valued, acknowledged, and connected to their work. Typically, engaged employees exhibit higher levels of dedication, enthusiasm, and personal investment in their jobs. Equally, an exemplary employee engagement strategy will recognize the role leadership teams play in demonstrating, promoting, and advocating core values.

An employee engagement strategy should address various dimensions of an employee’s work life — from professional development and career paths, to emotional wellbeing and a work-life balance. This creates a positive and supportive work environment making employees feel that they are part of a family and not just a corporation. 

Here are some of the key elements that contribute to forming a robust employee engagement strategy:

• Empowerment
  Allowing employees to have a say in their work processes and decisions, and offering them independence and a decent degree of freedom, empowers them. 
• Recognition
  Acknowledging and rewarding hard work, achievements, and efforts through an employee recognition program can make an enormous difference to any strategy.
• Development
  Providing opportunities for career growth, continuing education, and skills enhancement is another vital factor.
• Communication
  Promoting open dialogue, feedback, and transparency within teams and across the organization, is key to engaging employees.
• Work environment
  Cultivating a positive, supportive, and collaborative work environment also improves engagement. 
• Work-life balance
  Acknowledging the importance of personal lives by, for example, offering flexible work hours or working remotely is essential.

At the same time, it’s crucial to understand that an effective employee engagement strategy varies across organizations. Each company needs to design and fine-tune their engagement plan based on their organizational structure, goals, culture, and specific circumstances. For instance, companies with mostly remote employees might focus more on team building activities, improving communication channels, and creating a sense of belonging and camaraderie, even while working apart.

Importance of Employee Engagement Strategies in the Workplace

The significance of employee engagement strategies cannot be overstated in today’s business atmosphere. These strategies play a crucial role in cultivating an emotional connection between team members and their organizations, ultimately resulting in a positive work culture.

A global survey by McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) undertaken between February and April 2022 involved nearly 15,000 employees and 1,000 HR decision-makers in 15 countries. It assessed various workplace factors from toxic workplace behavior to leadership commitment and organizational accountability. It also assessed important health outcomes including symptoms of burnout, distress, depression, and anxiety. 

One finding is that one in four employees report experiencing burnout symptoms. But happily, the MHI research indicates that leaders can make a significant difference. Specifically, a well-executed employee engagement strategy can effectively combat employee burnout, which is becoming one of the most common issues in the contemporary work environment. It provides a structure for organizations to ensure employees feel appreciated for their hard work and contributions, thereby enhancing job satisfaction and overall morale.

Moreover, a well-formulated strategy is a signal to the employees that the organization values their input and sees them as crucial components of the overall business strategy. This not only boosts the spirits of the team members but also increases their personal investment in the organization’s success.

Enriching the Organizational Culture

An employee engagement strategy will work best when they are intertwined with the core values of the organization. This integration fosters a culture where every employee feels valued and contributes proactively to the organization’s mission. 

Gallup has a 2024 Employee Engagement Strategies Checklist that emphasizes organizations should prioritize promoting mission, purpose, and the quality of engagements. It also talks about effectively creating a culture of engagement. This means that every person in the organization should be part of the company’s success. Simply, when personal and organizational priorities and goals are aligned, job meaning and engagement will be accelerated. 

Enhancing Productivity and Performance

Engaged employees usually demonstrate higher productivity levels. Their commitment to the organization’s vision drives them to perform at their best consistently. Furthermore, their enthusiasm is contagious, fostering a conducive working environment where everyone strives for excellence. For example, organizations which frequently conduct team-building activities typically report higher productivity levels and lower engagement concerns.

Gallup’s checklist adds that managers also experience burnout and they can become disengaged with their teams. For this reason, they need to be trained on the best employee engagement and performance development to maximize productivity.

Boosting Employee Motivation

Employee engagement strategies play a crucial role in employee motivation. With the right strategy, organizations can enhance employees’ commitment, drive them to take on new challenges, and inspire them to set new personal bests. By creating opportunities for professional development and career advancement, the right strategy can help to kindle a real spark of motivation in employees.

Nurturing Employee Loyalty

Employee engagement strategies are a crucial determinant of employee loyalty. By offering a platform for continuous learning, recognition, and growth, organizations can foster an environment where employees feel satisfied. When they are satisfied, they are likely to stay with the company long-term, boosting employee retention.

This combined effect of high productivity, increased job satisfaction, and improved retention rates directly nurtures a positive work culture and ultimately contributes to the bottom line.

Innovation and Creativity

It’s often noted that engaged teams are also the ones most open to innovation. Creating an environment that empowers employees to express their ideas and suggestions is a potent strategy to drive innovation. Encouraging an open dialogue in the workplace fosters creativity, with diverse ideas leading to innovative solutions.

Improved Customer Satisfaction

The benefits of employee engagement strategies aren’t restricted to employees alone. It extends to the firm’s customers as well. Engaged employees are more likely to demonstrate a positive attitude, go the extra mile for customers, and ensure the highest quality of service. This attitude directly contributes to improved customer satisfaction and long-term loyalty all round.

There is no doubt that crafting an effective employee engagement strategy requires time and investment. But the long-term benefits an organization can reap — including lower employee turnover rates, enhanced productivity, and higher customer satisfaction — make it imperative for success. As businesses adapt to changing workplaces, enlisting the most thriving employee engagement strategies becomes increasingly critical.

20 Best Employee Engagement Strategies for 2024

The methods we can use to enhance employee engagement keep evolving and it’s essential to stay in tune with these changes. In 2024, you can start by exploring the role of insightful surveys and how fostering independence and a sense of freedom can empower your employees to new, meaningful heights. You can also initiate insights, promote resilience training, conduct water cooler meetings and other more formal employee events, and use AI to help you increase and improve engagement. The aim is to find strategies that will create a more inclusive, satisfactory, and competent workspace environment for your organization.

#1 Initiate with Insight: Start with a Survey

To increase employee engagement, it’s essential to understand the needs and expectations of your workforce. You can achieve this by implementing a comprehensive employee engagement survey. By collecting feedback to surveys, you gain insight into areas of strength and those requiring improvement. 

Not only does this show that you value your team’s opinions, but it also provides a roadmap for creating an improved employee engagement strategy.

It’s advisable to allow employees to remain anonymous if they wish. That way, they won’t feel compromised and are much more likely to be honest and open. 

#2 Foster Empowerment: Give Your People Independence

Employees relish a sense of independence and freedom in their work. Offering flexible work hours or the choice of working remotely can foster empowerment. When employees feel they have control over their work environment and schedule, it can lead to increased job satisfaction and subsequently improved employee engagement.

Establishing systems for self-management can also contribute to a sense of personal investment in the company. So, consider empowering your teams to make decisions and manage their time effectively. Combining this type of empowerment with a reward and/or recognition system can achieve outstanding results. 

#3 Guided Growth: Set up Mentorship Programs

Through mentorship programs, you provide opportunities for individual and professional development. Experienced team members can impart wisdom, providing insights and guidelines for newer or less experienced employees. Done the right way, this not only fosters a learning culture but also promotes deeper employee engagement through opportunities of career advancement and leadership support.

#4 Inclusive Decision-Making: Involve Employees in Company Decisions

When employees are involved in company decisions, it motivates them to work harder. It demonstrates that their opinions are valued by the organization and enhances a feeling of inclusivity. Whether it’s deciding on team building activities, plans for growth, or changes in protocols, foster an open dialogue.

This doesn’t mean you have to have a whole lot of less experienced employees sitting on your company board, it simply means you ask their opinions and consider their thoughts. Surveys work well for this strategy. 

#5 Promote Internal Mobility: Encourage Employee Growth Within

Providing clear and attainable career paths within the organization can prevent employee burnout and promote engagement. By creating opportunities for lateral or upward mobility, employees feel encouraged to stay and grow with the organization.

As we pointed out earlier, career progression has long been a reason for employees to look for new career opportunities. And while work flexibility has become hugely important for employees, the Achievers’ survey found that globally, career progression and compensation remains a relatively high motivation for employees to stay with their current employers. 

Interestingly, career progression is the number one reason for employees to go job hunting in Australia, Canada, and the UK. In the U.S. they found that employees both hunt for new jobs or stay at their existing jobs if they have the flexibility they are searching for.   

#6 Cultural DNA: Make Employee Recognition Intrinsic

Employee recognition is often an overlooked aspect of employee engagement strategies. It’s important to establish a culture that acknowledges and rewards hard work. By setting up a peer recognition program or other kinds of rewards, you can foster a culture of appreciation that can significantly increase employee engagement.

#7 Impactful Onboarding: Create an Onboarding Experience that Resonates

An exceptional onboarding experience is key for the engagement of new hires. A comprehensive onboarding program that goes beyond signing paperwork, integrating new hires into the team, and educating them about the company’s core values and expectations can lead to high levels of engagement from the onset.

Incorporate new employee onboarding events and encourage them to participate in water cooler talks where they will meet new colleagues and make new friends and connections. 

#8 Equitable Compensation: Ensure Fair Compensation Practices

Equitable compensation is a non-negotiable part of any employee engagement strategy. When employees are paid fairly in accordance with their roles and performances, it enhances their emotional connection with the organization leading to increased engagement.

So, don’t skimp on the money and be fair all the way down the line. 

#9 Incentivize Performance: Offer Employee Incentives

Linking performance to clear outcomes and rewards is a powerful motivator for employees. This can include performance-based bonuses, benefits, or recognition. A culture of meritocracy where employees know their efforts will be rewarded tends to propel engagement.

Organizing employee events can also provide an incentive and foster a sense of community within the workplace.

#10 Holistic Wellbeing: Prioritize Total Wellbeing

As the MHI research quoted above indicates, an increasing number of companies are recognizing the importance of employee holistic wellbeing. But it also shows that a large number of employers focus on individual interventions that remedy symptoms rather than attempting to resolve the causes of employee burnout and other major issues.   

Offering benefits related to physical health, mental health, continuing education, and life balance can improve employee engagement and satisfaction levels. But, as MHI warns, don’t overestimate the impact of wellness benefits and programs. Too often, employers underestimate “the critical role of the workplace in reducing burnout and supporting employee mental health and well-being.”

#11 Equip with Resources: Provide Suitable Materials, Tools, and Equipment

Ensuring that employees have accessible resources, tools, and equipment necessary for their function is essential. Lack of proper resources can lead to frustration, ineffective productivity, and lower engagement.

Of course, the resources your organization provides will depend on what each employee needs to be efficient, productive, and effective when carrying out job responsibilities. But the overall aim is to foster a conducive work environment, minimizing obstacles and enabling employees to perform their duties optimally. Adequate resources not only contribute to job satisfaction but also promote a culture of empowerment and innovation within the organization. 

#12 Transparent Culture: Promote Transparency Across the Organization

Transparency fosters trust, which is a key element of employee engagement. An open communication policy where leadership shares company news, decisions, and updates regularly with all team members can create a positive work culture.

#13 Inclusive Voices: Ensure All Voices Are Heard

Encourage input from all employees in meetings and decision-making processes, regardless of their role or level in the organization. This reinforces the feeling of worth and respect among the workforce, fostering employee engagement.

#14 Manage Expectations: Manage and Set Expectations that are Clear

Clearly defining job responsibilities, roles, and expectations can avoid misunderstandings that can potentially lead to dissatisfaction. When employees have a clear understanding of what is expected of them, they can perform their roles more effectively, leading to increased engagement.

#15 Stay Connected: Conduct Stay Interviews

Stay interviews provide a platform to understand the factors that keep employees engaged and committed to the organization. Unlike exit interviews, stay interviews aim to maintain the engagement of existing employees by determining what aspects of the job they find most satisfying.

Don’t wait until you need to even think about an exit interview!

#16 Versatile Growth: Adopt a Career Lattice Approach

A career lattice approach provides employees with multiple options for career growth apart from linear promotions. It enables them to gain a wider array of experiences within the organization, thus keeping the job interesting and engaging. 

This approach supports a more agile workforce by allowing individuals to explore diverse roles and skill sets, fostering adaptability in the face of changing business needs. This flexibility, in turn, contributes to a dynamic and resilient organizational culture where employees can continuously evolve and contribute meaningfully to various aspects of the company.

#17 Internal Promotion: Promote from Within

Prioritizing internal promotions can be a strong engagement tool. It sends a message that the organization values its staff contribution and sees their potential for growth. This method reinforces employee loyalty and engagement.

Furthermore, internal promotions create a sense of career progression and development opportunities within a company, motivating employees to invest in their own long-term professional growth. This approach not only boosts morale but also cultivates a positive workplace culture where individuals feel recognized and rewarded for their dedication, ultimately enhancing overall job satisfaction and commitment.

#18 Valuable Feedback: Consider a 360-Degree Feedback Approach

A 360-degree feedback approach fosters a more open, transparent, and collaborative work culture. It gives employees the opportunity to receive constructive feedback from their peers, managers, and subordinates, which helps them improve their work performance and feel more engaged.

This approach involves soliciting input from various sources, including peers, subordinates, and supervisors. The aim is to provide a comprehensive assessment of an employee’s performance. 

By gathering feedback from multiple perspectives, this approach offers a holistic view of an individual’s strengths and areas for improvement, fostering self-awareness and professional development. Implementing this strategy can enhance employee engagement by promoting open communication, continuous learning, and a culture of constructive feedback.

#19 Make Performance Management Matter: Shift to Agile Performance Management

An agile performance management system with real-time feedback and frequent check-ins offers employees a clear understanding of their progress. This not only promotes continuous improvement but can also significantly increase employee engagement.

#20 Resilience Training: Provide Training That Provides Employees with Skills

Resilience training is a form of professional development that focuses on equipping individuals with the skills and mindset to effectively navigate and bounce back from challenges, setbacks, and stressors in both personal and professional life. Typically, it involves teaching strategies that build emotional strength, increase adaptability and coping mechanisms, empowering individuals to maintain well-being and performance under pressure. It often includes techniques such as mindfulness, stress management, and cognitive-behavioral approaches to enhance an individual’s ability to handle adversity and thrive in various situations.

By providing resilience training, organizations can equip their workforce to handle challenges and bounce back from setbacks. This promotes a sense of security and high engagement among employees.

Implementing Employee Engagement Strategies

According to HR experts, launching any integrative approach to improve the corporate environment, which includes employee engagement strategies, demands a keen understanding of the crucial components involved. This includes developing a concrete action plan, conquering pervasive challenges, and maintaining tight control over the process with regular monitoring and measurement.

Develop an Action Plan

The first step in successfully implementing employee engagement strategies is to devise a well-structured plan of action. This plan needs to navigate the trajectory of your strategy and provide a framework for its execution. An effective action plan generally incorporates the following elements:

• Understanding your business objectives and aligning them with your employee engagement strategy. This encourages a shared vision and organizational consistency.
• Determining the critical actions that need to be taken to achieve intended results. This might include initiating mentorship programs, introducing a peer recognition program, or offering flexible work hours to improve work-life balance.
• Identifying the resources available and ones that are probably needed. Similarly, continuing education programs or professional development resources may be required.
• Setting timelines for implementation and completion of each action. This ensures that progress is measurable and time-bound, promoting efficiency.

Remember, the action plan functions as the backbone of your employee engagement strategy. It not only delivers a clear path to follow but also acts as a reference point when making adjustments or assessing progress. But, it isn’t set in stone. 

Overcome Common Challenges

While implementing employee engagement strategies can yield remarkable benefits, it’s also fraught with several potential obstacles. Recognizing these challenges early, and devising effective solutions to counter them, can drastically streamline the implementation process. Some common challenges include:

• Lack of clarity
  The absence of clear-cut goals or poorly defined roles can lead to confusion, resulting in lower engagement levels. Clear communication of expectations is crucial.
• Resistance to change
  Change is often met with resistance. Regular, open dialogue about the benefits of these strategies, addressing concerns, and encouraging feedback can help overcome this challenge.
• Resource constraints
  Limited resources can restrict the effectiveness of engagement strategies. Optimal resource utilization and careful planning can aid in combating this issue.

Evidence shows that proactive management of these challenges can accelerate the successful roll-out of your employee engagement strategies, thereby promoting an improved work culture.

Measure and Monitor Employee Engagement

To ensure your engagement strategies deliver the desired improvement, continuous tracking and monitoring are vital. 

Fortunately, the progression in engagement platforms such as Cerkl Broadcast enables businesses to accurately measure engagement initiatives. Some methods to consider include:

• Employee engagement surveys
  These provide an unfiltered insight into employee thoughts and opinions. Asking pointed questions regarding job satisfaction, leadership team and core values can yield a clearer snapshot of engagement levels.
• Stay interviews
  Regularly conducted interviews where team members are encouraged to share their experience working in the organization. They provide a platform for employees to voice their concerns, aspirations, and suggestions.
• 360-degree feedback
  This method collects feedback from an employee’s colleagues, supervisors, and subordinates. It’s a holistic evaluation that provides an opportunity for personal investment and positive growth.

Refined measurement techniques, combined with regular monitoring, can help maintain high levels of employee engagement. It can guide adjustments to action plans, ensuring they continue to align with organizational goals.

But remember, these strategies require commitment and continuous effort. So keep adapting your tactics until you create an environment where employees feel seen, heard, and valued. A well-implemented employee engagement strategy can significantly improve productivity, efficiency, and overall business success.

What’s Next?

There’s a lot you can do to improve internal communication, and we want you to know that Cerkl Broadcast offers superior options. You can experience the efficiency of our audience management platform, and deliver personalized emails and intranet content to engage and inform your workforce. You can also segment your employee audiences, schedule content, create custom dashboards, and design your own superior surveys.

Surveys can play a critically important role in assessing the success (or failure) of employee engagement in any organization. The good news is that we have designed an easy-to-use employee engagement survey template to get you started. We also introduce you to these surveys, employee engagement surveys and outline different question and answer formats that you can use.

You can use the template as is, or you can adapt it to meet your needs. For example, by changing some (or even all) of the questions, you will be able to assess specific issues that concern your organization. Feel free to download it right now. And, yes, it IS absolutely free!

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