Contrary to popular belief, the modern employee is not just a representation of the millennials in the workplace. It is the result of the evolution of shifts in when, where, and how people do their jobs. These changes have given rise to a new, more liberal and socially conscious way of approaching work and business.
The influence of the new generations’ way of thinking has undoubtedly had its contributions but it is not solely responsible. The leaps in technology and social awareness have made these changes possible and ultimately brought the emergence of the modern employee.
As a business owner or policymaker in your organization, it’s important to understand these shifts and how they affect your systems and processes. It will be beneficial for you to learn new ways to engage the modern employee.
New Ways to Engage Your Modern Employee:
Digitization
Everything has to be digital. There’s no excuse in insisting that the old pen and paper way of doing things and keeping records is still sustainable. The efficiency and ease brought by the digitization are already being felt in all industries. And unlike the old adage, everyone can learn to adapt. You’ll be surprised by how many traditional employees welcome learning new things.
Branding
More than their counterparts in history, today’s employees want to take pride in their work. Thanks in part to social media, they also want to be able to share their experiences at work. Nurturing your brand is essential, not only to sell your products and services but also to attract the right people. Rewarding top-performing employees is a good start. Having a strong and positive online presence is also another avenue worth exploring. Brand merchandising can help. Click here for more ideas.
Flexible Scheduling
Cooperation between teams in different time zones, work-life balance, or simply to avoid rush hour traffic are all reasons to adopt flexible working schedules. The modern employee values life outside of work. It has become more apparent now that living in the office is not the way. Flexible schedules allow workers to work at their most productive and keep their families happy too.
Working Remotely
Like flexible scheduling, working remotely promotes a healthy work-life balance in employees. Giving them this sense of autonomy will let them know you respect and trust their work ethic. This also means employees are able to do their jobs even if they cannot go to the office, raising productivity in the process. Just make sure there are reliable lines of communication, which are guaranteed by today’s technology.
Social Responsibility
The modern employee is socially aware. Office-initiated activities like outreach programs and onsite forums about socially relevant topics have the power to engage employees more than a work party. Your employees have to know that their organization understands the current state of the world and cares enough to do something.
Mental Health Programs
Similar to social responsibility, the prevalence of mental health issues in today’s society is something the modern employee cares about. Programs that raise awareness and help people with these issues can help keep employees. Seminars, onsite professionals, and mental health care coverage are becoming the norm in forward-thinking workplaces. You should also always keep lines of communication open and safe inside your organization.
By all accounts, the modern employee requires paradigm changes in how companies and businesses are run in order to achieve their optimum potentials. But when they do, the amount of efficiency and productivity that pours into their work is well worth it.
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