The US is experiencing unprecedented economic expansion and unemployment still sits at 50-year low, leaving organizations scrambling to retool employer branding and workplace offerings in order to meet the demands of talented professionals.
Not to mention system security–but with a focus on ease of use. Outdated, arduous or disparate security protocols can create a barrier to the smooth operation of important tech by employees (and customers!).
While focused employee training on software can improve retention rates, choosing the right technology for your employee demographics can tremendously boost engagement. Find out what type of user experience your employee base is comfortable and familiar with. Do they zip through Mavenlink with no issues or find it terrifying? Do they opt out of using Slack and email instead? Take a measure and choose the tech that suits your business and your employees. Selecting the technology that employees can master will reduce friction and boost productivity.
Recognition
Employees who are recognized frequently are more likely to stay with their organization, reducing overall turnover and the costs associated with it. These employees tend to not only stay with their employers, but are engaged, enthusiastic, and dialed into their work and organization. After 46 years of research on employee motivation, the top response for staying with an organization is always “recognition for work done.”
It's not uncommon for employees to feel that their best efforts are routinely ignored. Employees who do not feel adequately recognized are twice as likely to say they'll quit in the next year.
Companies that scored in the top 20 percent for building a 'recognition-rich culture' actually had 31 percent lower voluntary turnover rates and organizations with reward programs in place see a 14 percent improvement in employee engagement and productivity, according to Bersin by Deloitte.
Make Recognition Digital
Choose digital systems to accommodate employee workflows, and choose recognition that employees can easily digest. Physical recognition like thank you cards or badges can be taken a step further when an employee, working diligently, is gently interrupted with a notification that recognizes hard work in the moment.
Innovation Attracts
In an age of unprecedented unemployment, the battle for quality talent is fierce. Highly qualified and talented employees now have more options than ever. They can afford to be particular about what they want in a workplace and can leave at any moment. Employees today are in the position to make demands. And they demand what the digital era has provided most of the developed world: simplicity and personalization.
In fact, One study found that more than a third of employees worldwide feel their job is harder than it should be because of outdated processes and technology.
Employees who are recognized and don’t face digital friction working with outdated or disparate technology are highly likely to invest their best in their work, boost productivity, and remain engaged in their organization’s mission, values, and goals.
