An Employer’s Guide: Workplace Employee Experience
A little over two years ago, no one guessed that the world would change so drastically. When Covid took the world by storm, employers had to put their staff through pay cuts, unemployment rates shot up, businesses shut down and its impact caused a chain reaction all over the planet. Working remotely or on roster-based attendance, constantly sanitizing, maintaining distances, wearing masks, getting temperature checks, etc became the 'new normal'.
It may have been uncomfortable but gradually the world started getting used to it. However, it started taking its toll on people as these changes weren’t going away any time soon. Now, as businesses are gradually raising their heads up and keeping up against the odds, it is important that you understand, now more than ever, that employee experience and their mental health matters and will contribute massively towards the growth of your company/business.
What is employee experience?
If you are an employer, you may be well aware of what Customer Experience is. It is an important aspect of any business that the customer experience is outstanding to keep them coming back. Similarly, it is very much applicable to any employee of a company. Employee experience is what the employees’ perception of your company is from the point where they apply for the job up until their last day at work at your company.
If you want to retain your employees and keep them motivated to put out their best, you will have to make sure that their employee experience is well looked after.
Since the Covid-19 outbreak, the needs and wants of employees have changed. It is important that you understand this and stay updated on what these are and how you can support your employees through such times.
Employee Experience and Mental Wellness
Covid or no Covid, mental health plays a core role in employee experience. Both factors will truly shape a person in how proactive they could possibly be as a person.
There are many prevailing issues such as depression and anxiety that have cost the best of many people. Many employees may not even be aware of this. Add work related stress into the equation and you get an avalanche of mental health issues which will eventually trigger more unpleasant issues for the employer.
In the long run, not only will it derange the employee as a person, but it will have a direct hit on their personal output towards your company.
What Can I Do as An Employer?
Firstly, it is important that you should want the best for your employees. You should understand the vitality of your employee’s satisfaction in escalating your business into success.
Learn to lend a listening ear. Identify and understand what they need and what they may be lacking. Make sure the concerns are addressed and that they are receiving enough support from you. Here are a few tips you could look at:
Create a space where they can openly communicate with the HR & Managers.
Define the career path you can offer them in your company.
Make sure that their onboarding process is of a good first impression.
Encourage the higher management to engage in one-on-one conversations with the employees every now and then.
Invest in employee wellness
Make sure employees have benefits from the company in addition to the salary.
Get their honest opinions. Conduct anonymous surveys if need be
Most importantly, empathize them when they do so.
Remember, their general mental health will affect and will be affected by their employee experience. When you look after your employees, they look after your company. And it will in turn affect their output as an employee which will directly steer the course of your business.