Employee experience (EX) encompasses all aspects of an employee’s journey with a company. From onboarding to performance management, an employee’s experience must be positive.
Happy employees can work efficiently and effectively, boosting productivity. They also prioritize their well-being over work, helping companies remain competitive and profitable in an ever-changing labor market.
Increased Productivity
Employees are a company’s most valuable assets, and their happiness, well-being, engagement, and productivity directly impact the overall business success. Improved client experiences, increased brand loyalty, and increased organizational performance can all be attributed to better staff experiences.
Companies can create a better employee experience by improving the work environment, empowering employees to make decisions, and providing meaningful feedback. It can be done by providing quality equipment, a comfortable workplace, and encouraging employees to take breaks. Having good communication and relationships between managers and their teams also helps. Recognizing employees for their hard work and efforts regularly is a great idea.
Today, people are thinking more carefully than ever about where they want to work. Above-average salaries might attract job seekers, but many individuals are looking for a company with a culture that fits their values and will impact their work-life balance. In addition, they want to know if their work will matter and be productive, which can only happen in a culture that supports them.
Building an employee experience that fosters collaboration and provides a sense of belonging for your employees is the most effective way to motivate them to be their best selves at work. It, in turn, will lead to increased productivity and a greater return on your investment.
Increased Customer Satisfaction
Creating a great employee experience is essential to building a successful business. A company reaching its full potential requires innovation, creativity, and productivity from all team members. However, if employees are bogged down with inefficient processes or struggling to maintain their well-being, they won’t be able to perform at their best, and the company won’t meet its goals.
Fortunately, there are ways to improve the employee experience that lead to higher performance and increased retention. One way is to start with a core process that is personnel-related, and that has a direct impact on employee experiences, such as performance reviews or feedback. Identify all the steps involved in this process, evaluate whether any changes need to be made, and decide (in a sustainable way) how to proceed.
Employees want to feel that their work has a purpose and can collaborate with other employees as a true team. They also want a clear sense of their own goals and personal growth within the role and a workplace environment that is physically and emotionally comfortable.
To provide these experiences, it’s essential to understand what motivates your employees and listen to their needs. It includes asking employees what they want from their jobs, but it also involves listening to the responses they provide on pulse surveys. Employees who feel supported and heard at every step of their employment journey will be more likely to support their coworkers, customers, and the greater mission of your company.
Increased Retention
Employee experience encompasses the entire path of an employee’s journey, from recruitment through the end of their tenure with your organization. It’s about more than engagement: pinpointing and making the essential moments in your employees’ careers more positive, fulfilling, and joyful.
Creating a great employee experience is about more than improving your workforce’s satisfaction or happiness levels—it’s also about increasing your retention rate and overall company success. Employees who are happy and feel listened to are more productive, which leads to increased profits for your business.
And when it comes to employee retention, the quality of the company’s culture and employer brand plays a crucial role. A recent study found that employees who work at a company with a solid and authentic company culture are twice as likely to recommend it to a friend than those who do not.
To keep top talent, consider focusing on the experience of bringing new hires into your organization. Employees want to feel welcomed and cared about when they enter your office or join your team’s video call.
Ask your team what they think about the experience of working at your company, and then work with them to make changes where it makes sense. Start with one process related to your company’s values and priorities, such as performance feedback or career advancement options, and roll it out sustainably.
Increased Profits
Creating and maintaining an employee experience framework enables you to track and analyze how your company measures up. When employees are happy, they deliver great products and provide excellent customer service, increasing your bottom line. Engaged workers are more likely to produce well and stick with your business.
Employee disengagement is estimated to cost the US up to one trillion dollars annually in lost productivity. A great employee experience directly correlates to business success, making it an essential focus for leadership teams. To strengthen your employee experience, listen to what your employees are saying and take note of areas where your organization is struggling.
From the interview process to onboarding, performance reviews, empowering work-life balance, and developing camaraderie with peers, the employee experience is shaped throughout all stages of employment. When an employee’s experience is terrible, it’s not hard to find a job elsewhere—which is why companies must put in the effort to attract and retain top talent. Companies with engaged employees have 21% higher profits than those without. Employee experiences impact everyone in your company—from the front lines to the C-suite.
