Whether you run a hybrid model or employ even a single remote worker, you need an employee experience strategy made for today.
30 August 2024 | Kevin Nkrumah
It’s four years since the Great Homeworking Experiment. But many companies’ instinctive concept of working is stuck in an age when everyone sat in one room at the same time.
That’s because they’ve not thought through the appropriate design of their employee experience in the 2020s.
If you’ve never heard this term, it’s time to get acquainted. Your staff, whether they’re office-based or fully remote, will thank you for it.
What Is Employee Experience, and Who Are the Stakeholders?
Employee experience encompasses every interaction an employee has with your company, from recruitment through to departure. It’s a holistic view of what it means to work at your organisation, influencing everything from engagement to productivity.
A great employee experience doesn’t just happen; it needs to be designed. That means thinking from the perspective of the stakeholders.
Stakeholders in the Employee Experience
The key stakeholders in shaping the working environment include:
- Employees: The individuals at the heart of the experience.
- HR and Global Mobility Teams: They design and implement policies and processes that directly impact employees.
- Management: Leaders who set the tone and culture of the organisation.
- Third-Party Providers: Companies that supply tools, services, or programs that enhance the employee experience.
The Components of a Positive Employee Experience
A great strategy involves various elements that contribute to an employee’s overall satisfaction and engagement.
Core Components
- Work Environment: This includes both the physical and digital workspace, where employees need comfort, efficiency, and access to necessary tools.
- Career Development: Opportunities for growth, learning, and progression within the company are crucial for retaining talent.
- Work-Life Balance: Flexible working hours, remote work options, and wellness programs contribute to a healthy balance.
- Company Culture: A culture that promotes inclusivity, respect, and alignment with the company’s mission enhances the employee experience.
Who Brings What to the Table?
- Employees bring their skills, aspirations, and feedback.
- HR Teams design the employee lifecycle processes.
- Technology Providers offer digital tools that streamline operations and enhance communication.
Why a Great Employee Experience is Good Business
It’s intuitive really – creating an environment that people love to work in creates a virtuous cycle that’s borne out on your bottom line.
Enhancing Employee Engagement and Retention
Engaged employees are more likely to stay with a company, reducing turnover rates and the associated costs of hiring and training new staff. A well-implemented employee experience strategy can make employees more engaged with the company’s goals and supported in their roles, regardless of location. This, in turn, contributes to higher job satisfaction and career success.
Boosting Business Performance Through Employee Satisfaction
A positive employee experience keeps business booming. Satisfied employees are more productive, innovative, and customer-focused. Companies who prioritise the employee experience attract and retain better talent who serve customers more effectively – all the things that help businesses achieve their goals.
Gaining a Competitive Advantage in the Global Market
The war for talent is truly global, wherever you are in the world. Now that so many companies hire remote workers from abroad, word of a great working environment now travels across borders. Why not become the employer of choice for a global labour market?
Why a Consistent Cross-Border Employee Experience is So Important
One of the biggest challenges global companies face is the perception of unequal employee treatment. Employees working remotely or across different locations often feel isolated or perceive discrepancies in their treatment compared to their colleagues elsewhere.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Disparity
Let’s think of this through an example. Imagine you’re a remote worker in Portugal, employed by a company based in London. You log in each day and join your office-based colleagues on video calls. But you get the gnawing sense that they have greater access to the boss’s ear, a better feel for the promotional opportunities on offer, and more of a sense of collective identity and unity. It’s never fun to be sat on the outside while everyone’s having a good time.
This is where an employee experience strategy becomes essential. Every employee needs to feel engaged, valued, and aligned with the company’s mission regardless of location.
These disparities can lead to disengagement and a drop in productivity, whether it’s differences in benefits, access to resources, or career development opportunities. A consistent employee experience strategy addresses these issues by standardising key aspects of working life. This will help ensure that all employees feel they are part of the same organisation, regardless of their physical location.
Strategic Planning for a Global Workforce
A successful employee experience strategy requires thoughtful planning that accounts for the real needs of a diverse workforce. This involves understanding the cultural nuances, legal requirements, and market conditions of each location while ensuring that the core values and objectives of the company are consistently communicated and upheld.
Strategic planning also includes regularly measuring employee experience through surveys and feedback mechanisms, allowing companies to make informed adjustments and continually improve employee experience.
Enhancing Employee Experience: Strategies and Best Practices
If your company already has an employee experience strategy, it is time to refine it to meet global best practices.
If you don’t, then here are some building blocks.
Continuous Feedback Mechanisms
Gathering employee feedback regularly through surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one meetings ensures that your strategy remains relevant and effective.
Using Technology
Digital tools, from HR software to communication platforms, significantly enhance the employee experience. They streamline processes, provide valuable data for decision-making, and create a more connected work environment.
Aligning with Global Compliance
As companies expand, they must navigate varying regulatory environments. A strong employee experience strategy ensures that compliance with local laws—be it immigration, labour laws, or payroll taxes—is seamlessly integrated into the overall experience.
How Technology Helps the Employee Experience
Technology can bridge the gap between geographically dispersed teams. Digital employee experience platforms can help maintain a unified company culture by offering the same tools, communication channels, and resource access across all locations. This fosters a sense of belonging and ensures that employees can collaborate effectively, regardless of where they work.
The Tech You Need
- Onboarding Platforms: These help new employees integrate smoothly, no matter where they are.
- Performance Management Systems: Regular reviews and feedback loops facilitated by technology can enhance employee engagement and career development.
- Communication Tools: Tools like Slack, Teams, and Zoom ensure that remote and dispersed teams remain connected and engaged.
Employee Experience in a Global Context
An effective employee experience strategy provides the framework for quick, adaptive action in a changing economic and geopolitical context.
Adapting to Regulatory Changes
Global mobility teams and HR leaders must stay ahead of changes in immigration laws, labour regulations, and compliance requirements. An adaptable strategy helps your company stay compliant while offering employees a positive experience.
Keeping up with a Changing Workforce
As workforces become more global and diverse, HR strategies must evolve to reflect this. You need to adapt to cultural differences, vary expectations around work-life balance, and provide more personalised career development opportunities.
In a world where the workforce is more global and dispersed than ever, an employee experience strategy is a must-have. Keeping employees happy will drive business success.
By investing in a thoughtful, well-rounded approach to employee experience, companies can enhance their global expansion efforts, boost employee engagement, and maintain a competitive edge in the market.
Ready to improve your employee experience? Get started by reassessing your current strategy, incorporating global best practices, and embracing our award-winning HR tech to craft a workplace that truly supports your employees.
