5 signs your employee experience is suffering and how to improve it

The next chapter for employee experience

Over the past year, employee experience has taken a serious hit. Engagement rates have dropped significantly, with 54% of employees disengaged and 14% actively disengaged. Given that experiential enterprises enjoy 4 times greater profits, employee engagement is not something you can afford to let fall by the wayside.

But what does a compelling employee experience actually look like in the next chapter of work? The same engagement strategies that you once relied on to boost morale may no longer prove effective as your workforce continues to evolve.

Leveraging digital technology to enhance employee experience

In the of era of hybridized environments and mass-scale remote work, employee experience is digitally driven by default. Your workforce uses technology to connect, collaborate, and communicate, and the quality of their digital experiences profoundly impacts workplace satisfaction. Without the right technological infrastructure, it has become nearly impossible to cultivate a compelling employee experience.

Consequently, the importance of workplace technology has come to the forefront. 81% of business leaders view the digital workplace as a priority. As the center of your digital workplace, your intranet is uniquely positioned to serve as the virtual home for your new employee experience vision.

5 warning signs that your employee experience is suffering

Given the demonstrated link between engagement and ROI, improving employee experience should earn a top spot on your 2021 agenda. There are several telltale signs that your approach to employee experience needs a serious upgrade, including:

#1. Turnover is at an all-time high

If your organization has become a revolving door for new hires, you have a serious problem. Voluntary resignations cost U.S. businesses more than 1t annually.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has flooded the market with talent, there’s still a shortage of desired skills. Enhancing employee experience is a sure-fire way to retain the all-star performers you will need to set your enterprise apart in the new world of work.

What should you do if you notice that resignations are on the rise? Start by using pulse surveys and feedback forms to get to the root of the problem. Take advantage of your intranet to gain real-time insights into your employees’ satisfaction rates and what they’re looking for to take their experience to the next level.

#2. Recognition is non-existent

When it comes down to it, we all want to be recognized for a job well done. However, only 1 in 3 employees has received praise for doing good work within the past week. Recognition schemes are a win-win for your employee experience efforts: top performers get the attention they deserve, while their colleagues can see what best practices look like in action.

If you once relied on in-office celebrations to recognize deserving employees, it is probably time to rethink your strategy. In the new world of work, acknowledging your employees for a job well done is going digital. Use your intranet to award badges and kudos to workers who embody your organization’s mission and values.

#3. Values are an afterthought

Employees put a premium on value-driven work. 9 out of 10 workers value purpose so much that they are willing to trade a percentage of their lifetime earnings for greater meaning at work. Without a connection to your organization’s mission, employees will feel like something is missing from their day-to-day experience.

The good news is that it is entirely possible to utilize your digital workplace to cultivate a shared sense of purpose. Leverage your intranet’s social networking capabilities and discussion forums to spark conversations about what your organization stands for. Take it a step further by announcing corporate give-back schemes and volunteer initiatives that will give your employees the opportunity to come together to make a difference.

#4. Top-down comms reign supreme

If you want to take employee experience to the next level, make sure every worker feels empowered to raise their voice. 90% of employees at organizations with strong cultures note that they feel heard by their senior leaders.

In years past, internal comms teams may have found it difficult to pinpoint messaging channels that encouraged every employee to weigh in. However, next-gen intranets make two-way communications easier than ever. From user-generated content to social networking and commenting, empower your entire workforce to use your intranet to share their insights.

#5. Your employees are consistently overworked

It may sound counter-intuitive, but when employees constantly put in extra hours, it is not a sign of high engagement. In fact, if your workforce is consistently in overdrive, it can foreshadow trouble to come.

Workplace stress has been on the rise this year, with more than 3 in 4 employees noting that they have recently experienced burnout. When employees are constantly in a state of stress, their overall workplace experience will undoubtedly suffer.

Launching a mental health hub on your intranet is one of the most important steps you can take to keep burnout at bay. In addition to video content, informative articles, and support resources, include guidance for your managers on assessing workloads and communicating expectations.

Are you ready to reimagine employee experience with your intranet?

As the world of work evolves, engagement initiatives must adapt to keep pace. If you’re looking to enhance employee experience by launching a next-gen intranet, get in touch with our digital workplace experts.