More than ever, employees’ daily experiences determine if they stay or go. Make sure you have the right stuff to draw and retain the best workers.
An annual Global Culture Report identified six core elements of workplace culture that determine a candidate’s decision to take a job. Employee sense of purpose, opportunity, success, appreciation, wellbeing, and leadership are powerful draws and growing in their influence.
According to this year’s survey results:
- 71% of respondents see sense of purpose as essential, a 5% increase from last year.
- 66% prioritize sense of opportunity, a 7% increase from last year.
- 67% say sense of success is key, a 7% increase from last year.
- 62% see sense of appreciation as essential, a 5% increase from last year.
- 61% cite sense of leadership as key, up 4% from last year.
- 54% say sense of wellbeing is essential, up 1% from last year.
Employee experience is important, but it is just as essential for employers to understand what this is. It’s not about company-wide programs and perks or benefits. Instead, the vast majority (92%) describe their employee experiences as what happens to them personally every day, from their conversations and interactions to appreciation or acknowledgements they receive. However, only 42% rate their own experience as positive or extremely positive.
The survey authors say, “Our research shows that nearly one-half of employees believe their organization regularly sacrifices the employee experience to improve the customer experience…. Ironically, most organizations have neglected to incorporate the human element into their employee experience.” They add, “The importance of an employee’s micro-experiences cannot be emphasized enough.
Happy employees feel psychologically safe at work. According to the survey, when employees don’t feel like their opinions are valued, there is a 37% decrease in feelings of emotional safety. If workers don’t feel like their company positively impacts others’ lives, they are 31% less likely to feel psychologically safe. When employees feel safe, the survey shows, there is a:
- 347% increase in the probability of highly engaged employees.
- 154% increase in the incidence of great work.
- 33% decrease in the incidence of moderate-to-severe burnout.
Don’t underestimate the value of good leaders, the survey authors say. “Leaders play a pivotal role in building both a sense of autonomy and psychological safety on their teams. They set the tone and expectations for how the team functions.” They add that leaders who treat their employees “as people” and who encourage collaboration and support everyone’s development will “build teams that thrive.”
