Employee Experience

In 2018, we will begin to see a monumental shift in companies’ focus of HR departments and workforce management. Throughout 2017, executives placed emphasis on company culture and employee engagement. Companies invested in creating ideal work environments and building strategies in attempt to recruit and retain top talent. With this evolution of workplace trends, along with rapid development of new technology in organizations, the shift to employee experience is becoming more critical than ever in the war for talent and the success of a companies across the globe.

Employee experience (also known as EX) is sum of everything an employee experiences throughout his or her connection to the organization; this includes everything from the initial hiring process to daily interactions, promotional opportunities, tasks objectives, etc., to the ending of their employment. Unlike employee engagement which includes employees’ commitment to your company and their jobs, employee experience focuses more on an employee’s perception of the workplace and its executives.

Why is Employee Experience Important?

Several workforce factors have raised the importance level of EX.  First, many businesses currently operate in sectors where a war for talent rages.  Whether it’s retail, high-tech, or jobs whose need for highly specialized skills is not matched by adequate compensation such as nursing and airline pilots, it’s getting harder for many employers to attract and retain talent.

To compete in the war for talent, many companies try to develop an external reputation to help improve their recruiting efforts, but EX is about the day-to-day experiences an organization provides to existing employees. The popularity of websites such LinkedIn and Glassdoor make it much easier for prospective employees to assess the daily EX at a company they’re considering.

In addition to successful recruiting and retention, research shows investment in EX yields substantial results in employee growth, average revenue, profit per employee, stock prices, and average profit of the company.

How to Boost EX

One of the most effective ways to boost employee experience is offering them the tools and technology to improve production and efficiency. Employees don’t like scrambling around and pushing to meet important deadlines. Providing the right technology to employees allows them to work more conveniently and remove any headaches they many face while completing daily activities.

On top of utilizing technology and productivity, it is important to keep your employees’ talents engaged. Giving them daunting tasks that are repetitive is an easy way to lose their focus and skills altogether. Instead, give them the opportunity to think creatively and communicate their thoughts in an open, transparent environment. Assigning tasks that pose challenging, while at the same time allowing individual freedom is a great way to keep employees engaged and give a sense of meaningfulness to their work.

Welcoming Employees to the Company

From the first day on the job to the day they leave or retire, create experiences that enrich, motivate, and show employees that their time and effort is meaningful. A good way to do so is to welcome them to the company with a strong, positive first impression during the onboarding process. When an employee is first brought on, they are given a cursory explanation of their responsibilities. If they are not introduced to the company’s culture or brand, they’ll have no understanding of their role or the process in the company.

Your company’s employer brand plays a significant role in making this process both productive and engaging to a new employee. This is a great opportunity to use storytelling techniques to keep new employees engaged and interested. Showcase success stories to personalize the experience, and explain what makes the company unique in its culture.

Examples of Positive Employee Experience

It should be of no surprise to find that some of the top companies in the world participate in actively promoting employee experience. One of the most renown companies to do so is none other than the global search engine leader, Google. Google has emerged as the leader in delivering the best employee experience, boasting an impressive 97% employee approval rating. Through this feat, they’ve landed the number one spot on Fortune’s list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For.” With perks such as free gourmet food, extended parental-leave policies, pet-friendly workspaces, and many more, Google has set an unprecedented standard for high company morale.

Another renowned company that holds high standards of employee experience and company morale is the social media giant Facebook. The tech mogul ranked No.1 in Glassdoor’s latest list of best places to work. Offering great perks, compensation, career opportunities, and more, Facebook is dedicated to investing in its employees. When companies invest in their employees, it gives them a sense of importance in their job and their role in the company, thus creating an overall great employee experience.

Conclusion 

One of the biggest obstacles in terms of the employee experience is the complexity and bureaucracy that have taken over so many organizations. Balancing customer experience, employee engagement, HR, and multiple other factors prove to be challenging in today’s workforce; however, focus on EX shows to provide beneficiary results for most companies. Going into 2018, the labor market is tight, and there is more competition for employees now than ever.

The war for talent is still being fought, and the company with the best employee experience will inevitably win. It is important to reach out to prospective employees and find the talent you’re looking for. At Frazee Recruiting, we look to connect employers with talented candidates. Whether you’re a hiring manager or a candidate seeking a job, we’re here to help. Contact us today at 225-231-7880 and see what we can do to make your employment experience the best it can be.