Perks at work have become a source of pride differentiator for companies vying for top talent. Stocked fridges, catered meals, on-site fitness facilities, laundry services and complimentary transportation are just a handful of popular perks companies offer. But according to research by ServiceNow, thriving companies are those that have an effective strategy to build an engaged and productive workforce. One of the best ways is by giving employees a better employee service experience during big moments and even small ones in between.
ServiceNow’s report revealed that employee enthusiasm to work peaks at the start of a new job, but wanes by 22 percent shortly thereafter. This finding means that employers are not supporting employee’s basic needs on a day-to-day basis during employee lifecycle, with 45 percent still struggling to obtain information and answer to basic questions, such as finding a company policy or resolving an issue with employee’s equipment. Furthermore, only 41 percent believed their employers make it easy to select their equipment before the employee’s first day, while 51 percent received equipment necessary to perform job responsibilities at the onset of their job.
See also: It Pays to Get the Employee Experience Right
One-third of individual’s lives are spent at work and employees want their experiences at work to be more like their experiences at home, like having mobile technology to make finding information and accomplishing tasks simple, easy, and convenient. In fact, more than half (54 percent) of employees told ServiceNow that they expect their employers to offer mobile-optimized tools at work. Yet, the majority (67 percent) report not finding it easy to complete the necessary paperwork on a mobile device before their first day and only about half (52 percent) of employees have been allowed to use a smartphone or tablet to access employee tools from HR or other departments.
However, those who do have such access self-report higher productivity than those without these mobility tools. This is a miss for employers who haven’t yet introduced mobile self-service to their workforce, especially for those aiming to retain and attract millennials, as over half (59 percent) expect employers to provide mobile-optimized tools.
Increasingly, technology plays a central role in employee experience efforts. A PwC survey found that 90 percent of C-suite executives believe their company pays attention to people’s needs when introducing new technology. Only about half (53 percent) of staff said the same. Leaders think they are choosing tech to help employees perform well, the report read, but there is a major disconnect. The report also pinpointed several things workers want more of. They want digital skills. Workers value a human touch but they also like digital assistants. In this case, culture plays an increasingly important role as well.
Read also: 5 Questions for Designing Employee Experience that Matters
