Five worthy reads is a regular column on five noteworthy items we have discovered while researching trending and timeless topics. This week, we explore how the employee experience is evolving with the new normal.
Illustration: Dorathe Victor
The employee experience (EX) isn’t about ping pong tables or bring-your-pet-to-work days anymore. The new normal of working remotely has brought in a paradigm shift in the way businesses and employees operate.
With figures showing that more than 40 million people can make work-at-home a regular part of their jobs, most organizations are redesigning their EX strategies for their distributed workforce while others are beginning to understand that the EX is the key to productivity. Employers now are not only concerned about the safety and well-being of their workforce, but also their efficiency and productivity, which has undoubtedly taken a hit during the shift to remote work.
EX strategists are leveraging technology for a seamless digital employee experiences to boost efficiency and creativity. Organizations are investing in digital workplace solutions and other cloud-based applications that allow remote employees to work flexibly, collaborate, and stay connected with their peers. This creates a positive work culture and a comfortable work environment, providing better experiences. Chatbots and other AI-enabled devices, wearable technology, facial recognition, help desks, on-demand learning platforms, etc. also play major roles in enhancing the EX index of the remote workforce.
Studies reveal that employees who are emotionally and mentally invested in an organization are likely to make a positive impact on business results and are less likely to quit. Employee experience expectations are changing, and it’s imperative for organizations to measure and understand employee expectations, and provide them with the necessary support.
With that said, here are five interesting reads that discuss how EX is evolving, and how organizations can gear up their EX initiatives.
1. Covid-19 And Civil Unrest Has Disrupted Employee Experience For Good
The new normal has caused organizations to make the EX a strategic priority in day-to-day lives. The reality has struck hard; crafting new strategies and investing in EX programs is the way to keep up the morale and productivity of the evolving workforce.
2. Employee Experience, The EX-Factor for Competitive Advantage
Research says that companies that excelled at the EX saw twice the customer satisfaction. An EX strategy that creates a strong emotional connection between employers and employees becomes a valuable tool for the customer experience and competitive advantage.
3. Technology and the future of employee experience
Emerging technologies are pushing the employee experience to a higher level. An employee-centric approach towards tech deployment could improve employee happiness and productivity, and create a strong relationship between employees and the employer.
4. Here’s how employees’ experience can be enhanced during lockdown
The changing nature of work has made organizations realize the importance of EX strategies. For starters, enabling channels for communication and collaboration during remote work to increase employee engagement is a step in the right direction.
5. Why Employee Experience Initiatives Fall Short
Implementing EX programs along with taking appropriate measures to shape people’s understanding of their experience is essential for organizations to satisfy the larger audience. This will guarantee returns on investment in the long run.
The pandemic has caused disruptions and resulted in many novel practices being used across various sectors. While everyone is getting used to the new normal, organizations must realize that the likelihood of reverting back to older practices is almost null.
EX strategies and their corresponding metrics should evolve with the transforming future of work. The need for EX is now greater than ever before, and organizations that make employees feel valuable will find this approach goes a long way.
Sounds interesting!