Total Rewards as a Driver of Employee Engagement and Its Effect on Organisational Performance in Assam’s Telecom Sector – A Literature Review

Abstract

Employee engagement is widely recognised as a crucial determinant of organisational success, particularly in high-demand sectors such as telecommunications. Total rewards, encompassing monetary compensation, benefits, recognition, learning opportunities, and work-life balance, have emerged as a strategic lever to enhance employee motivation and performance. Drawing from theories of motivation, social exchange, and work engagement, this study investigates how a holistic rewards framework influences employee engagement and, in turn, drives organisational performance in Assam’s telecom sector. The paper integrates insights from leading works (Armstrong, 2012; Milkovich, Newman & Gerhart, 2014; Schaufeli & Bakker, 2004) and proposes a robust research methodology using mixed methods. Findings highlight that non-monetary rewards such as recognition, fairness, and career development opportunities are often stronger predictors of sustained engagement than financial compensation alone. The study provides practical recommendations for telecom organisations in Assam, along with theoretical contributions to the rewards-engagement- performance relationship.