How To Boost Workplace Experience
Employers are seeing a shift in what motivates and sustains employees. Before the pandemic, employees wanted higher compensation and more benefits, but now they are looking for a sense of security and safety, opportunities to grow, flexibility and an overall positive workplace experience. By improving the workplace experience, organizations can build a stronger team of employees to help increase productivity and decrease turnover.
The following are a few of the ways that employers can create a good employee experience:
- Treat employees like customers. Many organizations spend a lot of time and energy researching their end customers’ needs, wants and motivations. The same should also be done for employees. Find out who employees are, what they want and what their pain points might be. By getting to know workers, employers can better understand what they need to succeed at the organization. They will also feel validated and appreciated, which may lead to a better work experience and an increase in productivity and team morale.
- Adapt and take action. Once it’s clear what workers want from a good employee experience, it’s time to take action. Members of management and HR should work together to lead initiatives to boost the workplace experience. This could include creating a hybrid work environment, allowing for more flexibility and establishing clear paths to learn and grow within the organization.
- Continue to listen and evolve. Once changes are made, the work isn’t finished. Keep the lines of communication open with employees and encourage them to share ideas for improvement. Also, monitor the changes that have been implemented to make sure that they are working for both the organization and its employees.
Boosting workplace experience should be at the top of management’s priorities because it helps attract and retain talent, both of which are more important than ever in this post-pandemic landscape. For more information, contact The Hull Group today.
How to Approach Return to Work
Returning to work after months of being remote is no easy task. Employees will likely be hesitant and unsure about being back in an office space. It is important to help employees feel safe and comfortable with coming back.
Consider the following tips to create a smooth return-to-work transition:
- Share an explanation. If employees are uncertain about making the return, explain how it can benefit them and why it’s important to the organization. Talk about key points like productivity, collaboration, socialization or any other reasons that have influenced the decision to bring employees back to the office.
- Support a hybrid model. Easing into the transition through a hybrid model can help employees make the change. This could mean employees spend half their time in the office and the other half working remotely; they might only have to come to the office one or two days a week; or a variety of other configurations. This will help employees get comfortable with the idea of being in the office more.
- Keep mental health in mind. Employees may be anxious about returning to the office. Provide mental health resources can be used to treat workplace stress, anxiety and other mental health conditions, and reach out to see if there are other ways to help. They might need more space between desks or a more ventilated area to make them feel more comfortable.
- Encourage healthy habits. Place hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, face coverings, and additional cleaning supplies around the office that anyone can use at any time. Also, give extra time off to encourage employees to stay home when they feel unwell.
Employers can make the return-to-work process easier by being transparent and using frequent, clear communication to pave a path forward. For more information, contact The Hull Group today.
