Is the employee experience the future of work? Many companies tend to think so, which is why they’re doubling down on their most valuable asset: their people.
By definition, the employee experience is simply viewing the workplace through the eyes of the employee. And in the face of the current talent shortage, companies are feeling the pressure to rethink the workplace experience. According to Manpower Group, more than 45% of companies admitted their struggling to fill key positions, which can also adversely affect the level of service they’re able to deliver to their customers.
In response, companies are getting more creative in how to source and keep high performing employees in the workplace. Here are a few of the most common trends we’ve seen that are shaping the future of work:
Using Technology to Support the Workplace Experience
From the physical space they work in, to how employees connect and engage with the company, business leaders are finding that it takes more than a paycheck and two weeks of vacation to attract and retain top talent.
In response, companies are examining ways to leverage technology to improve workplace experience.
As many companies are shifting to an open office, the focus on marrying technology and productivity has never been greater. In a recent interview with Leesman’s Eleanor Forster, Eleanor believes that understanding what contributes to employee productivity will allow them to make the most beneficial decisions for their workers.
“It is dependent per organization what productivity and success mean to them… We also want to understand what the overall KPIs of the workplace experience are for each company. What is peoples’ sense of pride? What’s their sense of enjoyment? What is the sense of community like in the workplace? What are the company’s views on environmental sustainability? And, of course, most importantly that productivity question. Do you agree or disagree that your office allows you to work productively?”
In essence, drops in productivity often stem from a number of pain points that employees experience, including but not limited to:
● They can’t focus because of competing interests or distractions in the workplace.
● They don’t have the work life balance they need to succeed.
● They have a lack of training or systematization that causes gaps in their work.
Companies can utilize technology to alleviate some of these pain points. For example, something as simple as offering a package management system for employee convenience can add to the betterment of work-life balance. Notifii Track’s internal package tracking software can provide a high-level benefit to employees by allowing them to receive packages at work (and gain peace of mind that their packages are safe).
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Offering Flexible Work Schedules
Telecommuting isn’t just becoming more feasible for companies – it’s also touted as a major benefit that employees want. Studies have found that two thirds of workers want to work from home, while 36% would take this benefit over a pay raise. And among younger generations, workers say that the option to telecommute would make them more likely to accept a position with an employer.
Even in spite of top companies like Yahoo! and Microsoft calling their employees back to the office, many companies are finding ways to enable telecommuting or other forms of flexible work to attract talent and remain competitive.
Flexible work schedules have been proven to improve productivity and help employees create a better work life balance. It can also lead to better job satisfaction and healthier, happier workers, which will always bode well for the company employing them.
Investing in Ongoing Development
One of the most cited reasons why good employees quit is the lack of personal development opportunities. Career pathing has become tricky, with many applicants not recognizing an immediate route to internal advancement or feeling that lack of training or resources are preventing them from acquiring the skills they need to move up.
In addition, training and development are often first on the chopping block when companies need to make budget cuts. This, of course, is often counterintuitive since investing in your people is one of the best things you can do for your company.
The good news is that companies realize that in a shrinking talent pool, personal development is non-negotiable. Many business leaders are pushing to develop talent and skills from within that will result in improved retention and a stronger workforce overall.
For more workplace insights, head back to the Notifii blog.