To start taking a closer look at employee engagement, start by checking these six workforce trends:
- Rewarding Career Paths
Millennials rank advanced career opportunities as their number one drive for making career decisions. Millennial workers do not stay with companies that do not offer opportunities to learn, grow, learn new skills or advance. Speak with employees about their aspirations and goals. Make it possible for millennials to see themselves at your company over the long term. Offer personal development and skills training programs to help employees learn new skills.
- Work-Life Balance
Millennials are looking for careers that offer flexible hours in order to keep up with family and household responsibilities. Companies and employers are beginning to see the value of work-life balances. Studies have shown that a flexible work-life balance results in less sick days and reduces employee burnout. Allow employees to be in control of their own time management Employers must learn how to accept this and allow employees to work at their own pace (while still remaining professional).
- The Employee Experience
Due to the high cost of employee turnover, many companies are realizing that enhancing and shaping employee experience is well worth the investment. Investing in and implementing flexible work hours, telecommuting options, fringe benefits and a range of other tools are all effective ways that “speak” to today’s employees and that also improve the employee experience.
- Provide Tools
Employees that do not have access to the tools they need to do their jobs causes frustration and disengagement. Investing in the right tools—especially as old technology fades out and becomes obsolete— will keep employees interested, engaged, and performing their best.
- Recognition & Feedback
Employees want to receive recognition and feedback, even if it’s negative. 39% of employees feel ignored by their managers. This lack of engagement reduces morale and productivity levels Employees are 30 times more likely to work harder if they received regular feedback from managers Take the time to provide feedback to employees is a simple way to increase morale, productivity, and make employees work harder Invest in an employee feedback tool can help monitor and collect employee feedback as well as organize annual performance appraisals and/or reviews.
- Tools, but the Right Ones
Forward-thinking companies that effectively measure employee engagement levels, satisfaction, and the overall employee experience increase morale and productivity, and also reduce turnover rates. Make the employee experience one of the company’s top priorities. Invest in tools and technology, such as employee surveys, real-time employee feedback tools, and machine-based employee engagement technology. HR teams and managers that have the right tech tools spend less time on performing administrative tasks and focus more on improving the employee experience.