It’s your first day at your new job and you’re feeling nervous. Will the company match your expectations? Will you get along with your coworkers and supervisors? Will you be able to find the balance between work and your personal life? All of these questions are bound to plague anyone as they start a new job. You remember how stressful it was to start at your new job. So, you must know how anyone else you hire is feeling. That’s why companies must make the employee experience as enjoyable as possible. Every interaction and every phase counts as part of the employee experience, and the more positive these experiences are, the more likely it is that you will build a strong team of employees. Finding and hiring employees is the easy part. Maintaining them and fostering close relationships is the true challenge. Why do HR managers need to focus on employee experience? You might be wondering why all of this matters anyway. After all, isn’t the main purpose of a company to make a profit? The short answer is no. If your business slogan has something to do with making sure that everyone feels welcome and included, but you don’t do anything about this for your employees, it’s completely useless. Your employees make up your organization, and their success equals your success. Your employees should be more important to the company than the clients. People spend the majority of their lives at work. If you have a full-time job, you’re spending somewhere around 40 hours per week working. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that the environment your employees are working in is one that they enjoy. No one wants to show up to work miserable every day, nor does anyone want to spend their entire working lives waiting for the weekend. Surely, there is nothing you can do about people wishing they could be sipping mimosas on the beach instead, but you can make sure that your employees are not miserable when they come to work every day. In addition, focusing on improving the employee experience is only going to benefit your company. That includes the company’s profits, too. For example, if employees are happier when they come to work, they are more likely to be productive. Your MVP strategy and outcomes will improve, too. Their positive mood is going to rub off on others, who will also feel more motivated to work and do their best. If there is positive company culture, that will be reflected in the quality of your employee’s work. Also, there will be lower turnover rates, which also have a major impact on the company’s success and profit. If a company has a high turnover rate, that could end up costing the company way more. In short, improving the employee experience and giving them the morale they need to perform their best will only enhance the overall success of the company. HR managers are among the first people that new employees will meet at the company. If employees get a positive impression of the HR manager, that will only have a positive impact on that employee’s mood, morale, and performance. When you consider all the impact this will have on employee engagement and team satisfaction, you will realize how important it is to make sure that the employee experience is as positive as possible. Major elements of employee experience The employee experience will begin right with the first LinkedIn lead generation until the day the employee resigns from their position. In short, the employee experience is the entire length of time from when the employee first finds out about the company until the day they leave. Considering how much of our lives are spent at work, companies need to make sure that this experience is as positive as possible. Let’s look at some of the biggest elements of the employee experience. Recruitment. One of the biggest ways in which companies recruit employees is through LinkedIn marketing. LinkedIn has grown vastly as a networking site where companies can advertise and search for new employees. In addition, you can make use of your company’s other social media platforms. For example, you can also check out Instagram followers' demographics to see the kind of people who are following your page and who will be most interested in working with you. Work environment. Everyone seeks to work for a company that has a positive working environment. As we have reiterated several times, people spend the majority of their lives at work. If the work environment is negative, that is going to have an impact on your employees’ moods, not to mention their productivity. So, everyone needs to understand their role in contributing to the work environment and making sure that the environment is as positive as possible. You may want to consider conducting employee surveys (anonymously) to get a better idea of how your employees feel about the company and where they think the company can improve. If your employees don’t feel happy working in this environment, the company’s leadership needs to do everything they can to change that. Moreover, consider getting the right tools and platforms that will help your employees work more productively. If, for example, your company has a customer support center, you can acquire software like Talkdesk or look for Talkdesk alternatives. The better the working environment, the better the employee’s experience will be. Benefits. Benefits remain one of the most important criteria that people have when they apply for new jobs. If people have great benefits, they will naturally have a better employee experience. Unexpected events may take place, such as a death in the family, illness, or problems at home. Therefore, companies must take all of this into consideration when they compile a package for their employees. If the company offers great benefits, employees will naturally have a better experience. Technology. Technology also plays a major role. The Internet has drastically changed how people communicate with one another. Many companies now provide their employees with the option to work remotely. Employees will want to have all the latest software to ensure that their workday is as efficient as possible. Moreover, companies have presented new tools and platforms such as image editors, email signature generators, task management software, etc. These come in handy for remote work and help make it more manageable. The better the technology, the easier it will be for them to do their jobs. For example, you can use Google Trends API to determine what trends are taking place online, which will help you optimize your work more efficiently. You can also use tools such as Google Drive and Microsoft Teams depending on the job. In short, focus on the different technologies that you provide, which will enhance employees’ experiences. Also, it may be worth considering providing employees with computers and phones depending on the kind of job they have. Many elements contribute to the employee’s experience. Essentially, everything that employees will encounter throughout the workday can make their experience better or worse. If you have great technology, for example, employees will be able to do their jobs quicker and easier. This is important to consider when you are hiring new employees and focusing on expanding. The 4 Phases of Employee Experience and How to Make it Great! ClearCompany estimated that as many as 66% of employees will try to look for a new job within only six months. Although some employees will inevitably end up leaving the company quickly, the company needs to do everything possible to hold onto its employees. The main way to do that is to improve the employees’ experience. No one’s experience when they join a new company is going to be the same. It won’t even be the same for two people in the same position. However, when companies track the experiences and changes their employees go through, it is important to consider the phases of the employee experience and how to make them better. Now, let’s take a look at the four main phases and what they consist of. 1. Onboarding and welcoming new hires Onboarding is one of the key parts of the employee experience. It’s said that first impressions matter the most, and that is certainly the case here. Around 30% of employees will leave their jobs doing the onboarding process. It is through onboarding that new hires grow accustomed to the company and learn more about how to do their job. This is also when new hires will build relationships with those around them and start to understand how they can truly contribute to the company’s success. According to Peakon, the Onboarding process will generally take between 0-3 months depending on the individual company and the new hire’s performance. Some companies may make use of a coaching platform to assist employees in the onboarding process. As part of the process of welcoming new employees, another important step is building an online community. Many employees will end up communicating with one another online, especially through platforms such as Facebook groups, Slack, and Microsoft Teams. This online community needs to be especially welcoming toward new hires so that they feel that they are truly members of the team. Here are some more important tips for making the onboarding phase more efficient. Be transparent about everything: Sometimes, employers might feel tempted to conceal some of the flaws within the company. However, you need to be transparent with your new hires about everything. For example, they need to be aware of the benefits they are eligible for, the time off they will get, and issues that they might face within the company. If you show your new hires that you are honest, this will leave a lasting impression on them. A lack of transparency is one of the biggest reasons for Kickstarter's failures. They need to be able to trust you, and providing employees with the necessary transparency will put you on the right path. Engage with your new hires even before they officially start: Generally, the time between when the new employee signs their contract and when they officially start is around two to three weeks. However, you want to make sure that you maintain engagement. You may want to reach out to the new hires and see if they have any questions or issues. Make sure to present them with all the tools and technology they’ll use for their role. For example, introduce your new sales team to your platform for management, or if you cooperate with influencers, show your new marketing employee how to use influencer platforms effectively. In addition, it is always a great idea to provide the new hires with an itinerary of what they should expect during their first week. It is also worth considering making a welcome video that you send out to all new hires. Meet with the new hires on Day 1: It’s the big day! Now, you will want to do everything to make sure that you meet with all the new hires one-on-one to make sure that they know who you are and that you’re there for them. Having a personal meeting will help your new hires to have a stronger connection instead of feeling overwhelmed with all the events and training they will have to participate in over the coming weeks. Also, you will want to present the new hires with information that will help them to learn more about the company, such as the company’s mission and history. Organize team-building events: It is equally important for new hires to get to know the other members of the team, including other newbies and those who have been with the company for a long time. This can include team lunches or icebreaker activities (these aren’t everyone’s favorite, but they do help the team members get to know each other more effectively). There should also be meetings with different teams across the company and announcements that will welcome all the new hires. Show that you are available to answer questions: If you’re the owner or supervisor, you always want your employees to feel as though they have a connection to you. This means that you should reach out to them and show real-time support if they have questions or need assistance with anything. It can be daunting to them at first, but when they realize that you are truly there for them and want to see them succeed, this will enable them to have a better relationship with you and perform better on the job. Use the right technology: With the onboarding process, you will also want to make sure that you have implemented the right technology to help the process become more streamlined. For example, when you are signing contracts, tax documents, etc., it will be more effective to have document signing software implemented to make sure that your employees have an easier time, especially if they are working remotely. To summarize, onboarding is all about fostering and developing relationships with the new hires. You want to make sure that they feel welcome and that they are part of the new team! There are plenty of activities that will enable this to happen, so it is important to evaluate this with HR depending on your company’s values and mission. The onboarding process is what will make or break your employees’ opinion of the company, and it will dictate how long the employee will end up staying with you. 2. Development and retention (engage, perform, develop) The third phase of the employee experience is known as development and retention. This is the phase employees are in after they’ve been a part of the company for two years or so. This is the more experienced phase of the cycle, and it remains until the employee decides that they want to move on from the company. In this phase, employees want to advance in their careers and are looking to advance even further. They have enough knowledge and skills to become some of the highest-ranking members of the company. Considering all of the knowledge and skills that employees have acquired to reach this phase, they must be provided with enough opportunities for growth and improvement. This is something you’re likely to do as part of your customer retention strategy as well. Otherwise, the employees are more likely to seek these opportunities elsewhere. Here are some of the most important factors to consider in this stage. Not everyone has the same goals. Not everyone in your company is going to want to move up to the same position. Not everyone wants to become a manager, not everyone wants to become a team lead, and not everyone wants to train new employees, for example. Therefore it is important to consider the fact that each individual in the company is going to have different dreams and goals. So, when you consider development, understand that each person is going to have a different journey within the company. One person may move in a completely different direction than the other, even if both of these people have been hired together for the same position. Be sure to find ways to track the changes made within the company. Tracking any new changes that take place within the company will only help you get a better idea of how effective those changes were. When you hire new employees, you can also track their performance and see how the company has changed ever since hiring them. In any case, to make the engagement and performance part of the development process even better, you should make it a point to understand how the new changes have impacted your company. Make time for learning. Even though the stage of the employee experience involves people who have had a lot more time within the company, they are not going to know everything. Your company is going to constantly change and evolve, and your employees need to be prepared for this. Moreover, if you have senior employees, make sure they are properly introduced to the new technology and software you implement. Simple tasks like using Google products (docs, sheets, etc) or using a website ranking checker need to be learned by everyone. So, make sure that your employees have enough time to learn, and make sure that they can enhance their skills no matter what stage of the employee experience they are in. Invest in your company’s management. Having proper management is what’s going to make or break your employees’ experience. For example, if you have poor managers, it is going to be much more difficult to retain employees. Do you want to make sure that all of the leaders and managers within your company have the skills necessary to promote engagement from employees? Moreover, whether you’re a clothing business or a digital marketing agency, this investment can include tools such as training and proper hiring. Understand that everyone will have a different development plan. Once again, the experience that each individual has within the company is going to be different. So, for this, you can create an individual development plan that will consider the goals of each employee and outline the skills they need to have that will help them achieve their short and long-term goals. There is quite a lot that goes into this stage. This is the stage which employees will likely spend the longest amount of time (at least, that should be the company’s goal). It is important to focus on maintaining behaviors and high satisfaction rates to ensure that the employees will constantly develop and stay with the company for as long as possible. 3. Separation All good things come to an end eventually. The same goes for your job. As much as you love your employees, they will not stay with the company forever. Some of them may want a change, others may retire, and others may have found more suitable opportunities elsewhere. This is a normal part of the employee experience and one that every company needs to make room for. This part of the process is referred to as separation, and it takes place approximately 0-3 months before the employee leaves the company. Sometimes, this happens due to nothing you’ve done, but instead, it can be a decision that was made solely by the employees. Here are some factors and important points to consider about the separation process. Phases of the process: Different companies are going to have different rules about when people will give notice of resignation. However, this is often referred to as “giving in two weeks” because the most common practice is for employees to inform the company of their decision to leave two weeks in advance. Regardless, it is generally a good idea for employees to try to inform the company earlier for the company to start the recruitment process. As soon as the employee gives the company notice of their resignation and request for payment, the HR department and the employee’s manager must handle all the tasks properly, including paperwork and freezing finances. In addition, the employee’s manager must have a plan drawn out that will explain all the different tasks that must take place during separation. Generally, the length of time that this process will take depends on the employee's level within the organization. If the employee has an entry-level position, it will be easier for the company to find a replacement and to go through the separation process. But if the employee is a higher-up or a supervisor, it can take up to 2 to 3 months. Who participates? Aside from the employees themselves, several different people will play a part in the separation process. These include the employee’s manager, the HR manager, and the separation team. The employee’s manager and the HR manager must work together to hand over the work and other tasks. The separation team’s task involves dealing with the employee’s benefits and finances. Finally, the HR manager has the task of interviewing the employee to find out the reasons why they are leaving. In essence, this entire process involves many people, and companies need to establish a clear process for separation. Make it a point to understand why people are leaving the company. This is, perhaps, the most important part of the separation process. It costs companies a significant amount of money to hire new employees and to go through the separation process in general. In addition to that, companies must handle high turnover rates and find out why employees are not satisfied. Of course, as we mentioned, sometimes the reason why employees are leaving the company has nothing to do with the company itself. Everyone wants to grow and advance in their career, and sometimes that is not possible within the current company. This is natural, and something that each company should take into consideration. However, it is also likely that the reason why the employee wants to leave the company is something that the company has done, such as not providing them with enough sick days, not giving them maternity leave, or poor treatment from the managers. That is why it is important to understand why employees are leaving so that you can fix problems as they arise without letting them get worse. And, if the employee leaving expresses dissatisfaction with the company, chances are that many of the other employees feel the same way. Ways to understand why people are leaving. Nowadays, there is a lot of software that will enable you to get a better idea of why employees are leaving the company. Exit Survey: This is, perhaps, the most popular method. An exit survey consists of questions that companies will ask the employee before they resign. The survey will consist of questions such as why the employee started searching for another job, why they are leaving, and if there is anything the current company could have done better. You can also make use of tools such as customer feedback software to understand how clients are feeling. In essence, the company needs to obtain feedback from employees through the use of such surveys. Exit Interview: This has the same premise as an exit survey, only it is conducted in person. The interview will generally take place between the employee and the HR manager. The questions will mostly be the same as those asked during an exit survey. It is important to understand that each person leaving your company deserves to have this interview. The separation process is a sad but important part of the employee experience. It takes a lot of work and tends to involve many people. However, the most important part of this phase is to understand why the employee is leaving and if there is anything the company could have done that would have changed their experience. 4. Employee data protection As you hire new employees, you will need to ask for and retain personal information like Social Security Number, medical records, bank account information, etc. During their employment, they will communicate with company partners for product roadmaps or new distribution methods. These processes require information and data exchange. To create an excellent employee experience in your company, you need to secure employee data, especially when it comes to personal and financial information. Keep records secure Start by implementing control over data by securely keeping all records. For example, paperwork and documentation need to be stored in a safe location that’s under control. For this reason, Microsoft has launched the NTFS system for storing and organizing data more efficiently. As you set up and analyze NTFS permissions, you can give access to records to certain people in your company. When it comes to electronic information, consider encryption, use passwords, and secure servers. In addition to this, you also need to keep the means and technologies under maintenance to ensure your employee data doesn’t get any virus threats. Train on cybersecurity In this age of digital innovations and technology, company staff must be aware of things such as cyberattacks. Especially when it comes to new employees, they want to get things done well and show great performance which is why they are a great target for hackers. Therefore, it is essential to integrate comprehensive cybersecurity training into the onboarding process to protect both the employees and the organization. If, for example, an employee gives out financial information via email without realizing that it’s phishing, attackers can easily access both their and company data. This is why it’s important to keep email records safe and prevent hackers from getting access to your employee data. Encourage strong passwords Since you’re welcoming new employees, you will need to provide accounts like email, company file access accounts, or maybe even LinkedIn. Most of the time, employees tend to choose passwords that are easy to remember, so that they won’t have to struggle with them. However, hackers and the bad guys on the Internet can easily ‘guess’ those credentials and get access to employee and company data. So, require your staff to set strong password credentials and change them periodically to avoid cyber attacks and ensure the data privacy of your employees. Implement proper access control Technology has developed so well that companies can now implement access control methods like biometric readers, key cards, and more to protect data. If your employee data is stored physically, you can assign specific employees and define who can get access to that area. Moreover, access control implementation helps determine who can enter and exit your company building, and access certain rooms, or employee data. If you choose to skip employee data protection, you not only create a bad experience for new workers but also damage your company’s reputation. Moreover, if you don’t prevent employee data theft on time, your company will face costs like regulation, litigation, and more. Tips for creating a great company culture No one wants to work for a company where the employers are rude and everyone seems to be in a bad mood all the time. That’s where the importance of company culture comes into play. Although it might seem like an impossible task to create a great company culture, especially in the beginning, it’s certainly feasible. But it all comes down to the attitudes of the managers. And when you create that company culture, you’ll notice a dramatic shift in productivity, morale, and engagement. Here are some of the best tips for fostering a company culture that people will fight to work in. Actively care for the wellness of your employees One of the most common complaints people have about their employers is that the employers treat them like robots. So, in short, it’s important to make sure that you recognize your employees are human. They have personal lives outside of work, and sometimes circumstances arise that will prevent your employees from performing their absolute best. Making sure that your employees get the proper rest, time off, and support will help them feel more confident and appreciated at the company. Part of caring for their wellness also refers to offering benefits, too. Use the right tools Using the right tools can drastically improve your company’s culture. Tools generally refer to the technology that is used to make the entire workday smoother. Finding the right tech products to help enhance the productivity and efficiency of your company should be one of your biggest priorities. Time management tools are among the most important considering that everyone needs to be able to allocate time efficiently. Building a strong online community also plays a huge role. Employees will often communicate with their supervisors and coworkers online, so tools such as Slack and Microsoft Teams are crucial. Also, you will want to include some sort of meeting notes to make everything easier to understand. Or, you can encourage your employees to go with email signature management and customize the signature so others can understand their position. Make sure your employees feel recognized and appreciated As we’ve already established, your employees are your company’s biggest asset. Make sure they know this! No matter how small, make sure your employees know that you appreciate and value them. Even if it’s something like bringing in coffee to work on Fridays, or sharing their success through Instagram hashtags on your company page. This will certainly boost morale and make your employees happier to work for you. Listen to your employees Your employees are the ones who run the company, essentially. So, they are the first to see if there is a problem or somewhere the company can improve. You can also use technology such as employee testimonials to find out more about where the company is lacking and what it can improve upon Conclusion The employee experience is, arguably, one of the most important parts of your company. People are going to find out how you treat your employees and if word gets out that the employee experience is overall rather negative, that is going to have an impact on your company. As you outline your company, one of the first factors to consider is what you will do to make your employees have the best experience. Your company may hire thousands of employees during your tenure, but each of those employees is going to remember your company. Following this advice is going to make sure that those memories are positive ones. Author Bio: Anthony Stevens is the Content Specialist for Excel Templates, a resource for free Excel templates including calendars and charts. When not writing, he spends time building furniture and running with his dog.

According toGallup, employee turnover is costing businesses a whopping one trillion dollars on an annual basis. That’s not all, though. Additional insight from Gallup reveals the work and efforts that businesses have to employ to replace workers is extremely costly. This is a cost you want to avoid when possible. As it turns out, one of the best ways to avoid employee turnover is by having a good onboarding strategy. The right employee onboarding strategy helps you find the right people to work for you; it also helps you retain these employees, saving yourself time and money.Organization onboards are also something to keep in mind as well. Like many things in business, putting together a good onboarding strategy and onboarding program takes time and effort. However, the return on investment (ROI) is undeniable. Understanding what the ROI of a good onboarding strategy entails is critical for the long-term success of your company.All employees, HR professionals, and others in similar positions should understand this. 7 Examples of ROI from a Good Onboarding Strategy In far too many cases, there are businesses that rush through the hiring process; this is especially common when time is of the essence and the demand for new staff is high. However, in the long run, this decision lacks the ROI innately attached to a good onboarding strategy. It also prevents new hires from having a positive onboarding experience. 1. Greater Worker Productivity and Engagement A good onboarding strategy involves training, integration into the company’s workplace, and direct interaction. This process ultimately allows the people working for your business to truly become acclimated. As a business owner, this can only benefit you. When employees learn about the business and get properly integrated, they’re in the best position to work well for you. In turn, this work leads to more productivity and overall engagement. The value that truly great employees bring to a company cannot be overstated. The right and effective onboarding strategy give employees an idea of the environment, expectations, and tasks associated with their work. As worker productivity and engagement grow, your business can subsequently follow suit. 2. Better Interactions with Customers Customers can make or break your business. Furthermore, if your business involves your customers interacting with your employees, you want the latter to be as prepared as possible. Employees who are well-equipped to deal with customers are another major ROI from a good onboarding strategy. This is where the training part of onboarding makes a huge difference. An untrained worker may become a deer in the headlights when interacting with customers; however, a trained worker will know how to assist customers and make their experience with the business as pleasant as possible. Customers leave reviews online; they can also give word of mouth to others in their communities regarding your company. As a business owner, you want feedback from customers to be positive. This task becomes immensely easier with properly trained staff working for you. 3. Weeding Out the Bad Apples Believe it or not, weeding out the bad apples during onboarding is important. It’s a major ROI because it can save you long-term headaches. For starters, your company’s onboarding process will show whether or not a new hire is cut out for the job. If they are not, knowing sooner rather than later is best. As a business owner, this puts you in the best position to cut your losses. Furthermore, weeding out bad apples during onboarding softens the blow of turnover. Without a good onboarding strategy, the wrong person could be with your company for months, rather than weeks. 4. Greater Loyalty Among Staff Every business wants good, qualified employees. However, when it comes to truly getting an ROI from onboarding, this is merely a baseline. Of course, qualified staffers who are good at the job are important; however, the true ROI comes when your staff is truly loyal to your company. This automatically helps you increase retention rates. Harvard Business Reviewlikewise notes the benefits of loyalty amongst your staff. Loyal employees generally stay with the company. They also positively contribute to the overall reputation of your business; this is always a huge deal, especially when it comes to customers and partners. 5. A Leg Up Against Competitors The world of business is innately competitive. If turnover is something your competitors are struggling with, this is all the more reason to have a good onboarding strategy. As the world of business gets more complex and integrated with technology, staying a few steps ahead of the competition can never hurt. Proper onboarding gives you a leg up against competitors in several ways. For starters, it saves you the time, monetary, and emotional costs of turnover. Secondly, employee retention sends a message that employees enjoy working for you. It’s a very well-established fact that employees who love the work they do are likelier to stay with the company longer. When running a company, sometimes a huge ROI simply involves avoiding the traps your competitors have fallen into. In many cases, this means making sure your employees’ experience with the company pays off, as competitors struggle to retain workers. The right onboarding strategy can determine not just the quality of your business, but also its longevity. This is something to keep in mind not just during the onboarding process; it’s also worth remembering when determining what your onboarding process will entail. 6. Less Stress as a Business Owner To a particular degree, there are certain stressors associated with running and owning a business; however, cutting back on these stressors is important. Too much stress can adversely impact your work and the ability to keep things running properly. When onboarding is done properly, it gives business owners peace of mind. As a new employee goes through the onboarding process, you’ll be able to see them learning the necessary details, procedures, etc. to properly do their job.Ultimately, you want a new employee to become a good employee. Observing the onboarding process also gives you insight into how your new hires deal with pressure, challenges, etc. All of that makes a huge difference; it can certainly let you know whether or not these new employees are a good fit. Having the peace of mind in knowing that your business is in good hands makes all the difference in the world. This is a great ROI because it allows you to direct your energy towards other aspects of the company that may require attention. 7. Attracting New Workers As your business grows and expands, the time could come when it’s time to make new hires. With that said, you want to attract the best of the best people to work for you. When it comes to the people working for you, quality always trumps quantity. Not only do you want to attract new workers; you also want the workers who are right for you. Some potential new hires may inquire about the nature of your onboarding process. Many workers want to know they’ll be given the proper training and tools necessary to succeed in what is their full-time job. By having a good onboarding strategy, you can show prospects they’ll have the necessary guidance and feedback if hired. Conclusion As you might have inferred from the seven ROIs listed above, a good onboarding strategy is quite crucial. This is true whether you’ve been in business for 12 months or 12 years. Depending on the particulars of your business, the various aspects of your onboarding process may vary. As you set up and implement your onboarding process, keeping the ROIs mentioned above in mind is always a good idea. However, here’s the bottom line: the right onboarding strategy can only add value and benefits to your company. Before making any (new) hires, making certain that you have the best onboarding process in place is worth it. With the best onboarding process in place, your business will be in the best position to grow, expand, and stay ahead of the competition. Author Bio: Raya is the CEO and co-founder ofezClocker, a time tracking, and scheduling software for small businesses. She is passionate about customers and building products that change the way people run their businesses. She is also a big supporter of the startup community and helping people achieve their dreams

Whether you like it or not, digital transformation is going to play a part in your business. By now, most organizations know that if they can’t build a digital strategy then there is a chance they will be left behind in more ways than one. One of the keys to running a successful business is involving the right people. That means your employees. In 2020, a number of businesses were pushed from gently transitioning to digital, to having to very quickly become a fully digital operation. While not easy, this can only be a good thing for most businesses. In this guide, we explore the advantages of digital transformation for employee experience, one of the key foundations of taking your organization firmly into the future. What does digital transformation mean? In general, digital transformation is about adopting the digital across all areas of business. This can refer to the services or operations within the business. It’s not just the job of the IT employees in a business to create a robust ‘digital’ strategy and incorporate the 21st century across the whole organization. This is about cultural change within a business strategy, not just having better access to servers, for instance. As an employee, the majority of the working day probably incorporates plenty of areas of digital connectivity. From the way you receive your paycheck to the way, you ask your boss a question and other manual processes. In 2021, more of the day-to-day activities are carried out online. This has undeniably been accelerated by the pandemic, but these changes were in the pipeline long before. Let's explore some of the areas that impact your employees daily and key benefits. Improves Communication and Interaction In the modern age, people are used to being well-connected via email, social networks, and other digital platforms, especially during remote working. CRMs and project management software are a big part of this successful digital transformation in the workplace, and they’re just some of the ways that you can keep your employees connected and improves internal communication strategy. In the workforce, the fact that we can all connect digitally makes it so much faster to speak to the right person when you work from home or set up a meeting with a lot of employees to make sure you interact and communicate the messages you need to. To learn even more about improving the employee experience and increasing your competitive advantage while providing a fast return on investment, download our ebook now. Download now Helps Employees to Understand Important Goals Having digital platforms to work from also allows employees to understand their goals, both individually and as a company. Project management tools online should be based around systems to get things done, and it should be easy to visualize what you are working towards. Milestone and goal-based systems mean that employees can clearly see where they are going, both individually and as a team. This makes employees far more effective and focused, but it can also do a fantastic job of keeping people on the right track. As an employee, you want to have clear goals set out for you. Digital systems make this far more simple. The world of management has definitely changed, but digital tools help people to understand the KPIs of any business and of individuals and improve user experience. It’s a way to track employees, motivate them, and use a statistical approach to the growth and success of a business. Supports a Two-Way Feedback Culture Communication is key. This is true within virtually any business, and a two-way feedback culture is essential in the modern age. Employees don’t want to feel like they are not heard, or that they are just another cog in the machine. Instead, using feedback systems and project management solutions that incorporate all employees means that everyone can have their say. This also means that there is less room for bullying and a lack of respect in the workplace, which directly brings to increased productivity. There is more evidence and more of an opportunity to discuss things as a whole team. Improves Onboarding and Upskilling It’s amazing how few businesses actually have a good system for onboarding and upskilling their employees. In 2021, implementing digital management systems has made this so much simpler. While some jobs will always need some in-person training, the fact that employees can access courses and a knowledge base online should be the best thing for all parties. Upskilling your employees is not just about the success of a business, either, it is about keeping people happy. Employees often want to improve, grow, and find new opportunities within an organization. To be able to do all of this internally is an advantage for many businesses. Supports a Sense of Belonging Most of us know that the world of work has changed an incredible amount, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be inclusive. With companies moving away from the traditional office setup, there won’t be as many conversations around the office water cooler, instead, there can be new ways to collaborate, share the company culture, and generally involve all employees. Company culture can still spread and keep everyone happy and working effectively online, but it does take effort to cultivate. A lot of companies are introducing social events online, or new ways to keep employees engaged with one another rather than being isolated if they are spending less time together. Helps Leaders to Recognise and Reward Employees Quite simply, it is easier to track what everyone is doing in an individual way if you are using digital technology. There are many benefits to using this to your advantage and make your employees feel appreciated. Some companies are introducing leaderboards to congratulate people, or a spotlight feature to follow certain teams or workforces and the vital work they are doing to motivate and improve employee productivity. By tracking statistics you can also introduce a lot of methods to reward employees, too. Most improved or best-performing employees can be given bonuses or highlighted for their performance. This is a way to show that you appreciate it and to motivate employees, who know that the hard work and hours they put in for a company can be rewarded. There is a fine line here, and you need to avoid ‘shaming’ employees who may not be performing as well. It’s best to take an approach that keeps all employees in the loop and provides rewards based on their performance. Similarly, you can reward effort as opposed to just rewarding performance. It could be the case that some employees are working incredibly hard without stats to back it up, so try to track this wherever possible. Conclusion The benefits of digital transformation probably incorporate pretty much every part of your business processes starting from the bottom line. It isn’t just about changing the processes, it is about finding weak points in your employee experience and using digital tools to address them. There are so many ways in which small gestures and organizational changes can make all the difference in the future of your company, including improved customer experience. The likelihood is that digital transformation is upon your business whether you like it or not. Creating a strategy and embracing what is to come is the ideal way to get ahead of it, and to create a place people want to work. Company culture is not necessarily created in the office anymore, so you need to turn the digital space for your company into a way for people to mix and feel like they are truly included and are all pushing in the same direction. Author Bio: Meggie Nelson is an HR Manager at AMGtime and a passionate freelance writer with an ongoing curiosity to learn new things. She is deeply convinced that valuable experience sharing is key to business success. Meggie believes in a win-win formula and utilizes it on a daily basis in staff management.

Employee engagement and job satisfaction might seem very similar terms, but they are really very different. If you’re able to understand what that difference is, it will have a significant impact on your business. You might not realize, but voluntary turnover can cost a company billions in terms of lost productivity and the cost of rehiring and retraining. Things have been a little different over the last couple of years, thanks to COVID, but previous to that, a staggering 27% of US workers left their jobs voluntarily in 2018. According to the 2019 Retention Report, if the trend continues, this figure could hit 35% in a couple of years. However, there’s one very effective way to change this trend, and that’s by addressing the issue of employee engagement and job satisfaction. Understanding the difference between job satisfaction vs. employee engagement will help you keep your workforce happy, motivated, and much less likely to quit. What Is Employee Satisfaction? Employee satisfaction, or job satisfaction, is when an employee enjoys the work that they do. There are various things an employee can use to measure their happiness, such as pay, hours, and flexibility. Employee satisfaction is generally enough to keep a person in a job for many years. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll reach their full potential and help your business grow. What Is Employee Engagement? Employee engagement is more about how involved and connected an employee feels in their job. How engaged an employee feels depends on several factors, such as motivation, interest, purpose, personal investment, and passion. If a person doesn’t feel engaged in their role, they might feel their job has no connection with the success of the business. Over time, this could mean they look for a more meaningful job. What are the Principal Drivers of Employee Engagement? Gallup’s Engagement Measurement Model categorizes the drivers into four distinct categories. Entitlements For your employees to feel engaged, they have to know what you expect of them and what their responsibilities are. You also need to provide them with everything they need to enable them to do their job well. They also need to be able to perform their role easily. If this means relying on technology, it will be beneficial if it’s more than a decade old. Contributions An engaged employee is one who feels they are contributing to your business, in a measurable way, every day. They will know this is so if superiors in the company congratulate them on a job well done. Bosses should also show they care about their employees’ well-being, both at work and when they are away from the office. Managers should also understand that the workforce will want to progress through the company and be interested in helping employees achieve their professional goals. Community An engaged employee is someone who enjoys working with their colleagues. They will also feel like they have a voice in the company. People listen to what they have to say and respond accordingly. Engaged employees believe that what they do is invaluable, and if they stopped doing it or were less productive, everyone would notice. Growth For an employee to feel engaged, they must be given adequate opportunities for personal development at work. This could take the form of training, promotion, more responsibility, or the opportunity to attend trade shows, symposiums, or conferences, outside of work. There are a few more factors that are worthy of mention. A Culture of Diversity Diverse work culture is essential if you want to ensure maximum engagement for your employees. The company should be open to new ideas, wherever they might come from, be proactive when it comes to preventing bias, and ensure equal opportunities are available for all. Internal Communication Communication has a huge role to play in employee engagement. This is particularly relevant if the workforce is distributed over a vast area. Your employees need to be able to connect in real-time, receive regular company updates, and resolve issues. All of these will ensure a more engagement-friendly workplace. Inspirational Leadership Company leaders should lead by example and be inspirational in what they do. After all, employee engagement is led from the top. Above all, company leaders should: Regularly interact with their workforce Share ideas Collaborate with employees Ask for contributions before making decisions The same goes for creative project managers and product owners. By sharing ideas interacting with your coworkers, you make them feel they have a part to play in the growth of the company, and it will keep them engaged. Creating videos for internal comms is a great way to unify your brand and company messaging. Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction The factors that affect job satisfaction are very different. They tend to be monetary and associated factors that determine how satisfied an employee is with their job. The factors include the following. Compensation Compensation is possibly the biggest driver when it comes to job satisfaction. Two elements are most important. Firstly, the pay scale must be comparable and competitively positioned against similar companies in the area. Secondly, it should allow employees to maintain an above-average standard of living and quality of life. Benefits Next to good pay, a comprehensive benefits package can also be a big driver. Such a package might include things that take care of physical and mental well-being, family coverage, financial wellness, and childcare. There are several other more innovative benefits you might want to consider, such as an in-house gym and unlimited paid time off. Working with a PEO company can help you optimize employee benefits to keep your employees satisfied. Work-life Balance According to a survey undertaken by Mavenlink, 62% of workers feel work/life balance is most important for a company culture that fosters success. What does this mean exactly? Here are a few things that can ensure a positive work-life balance: Flexibility to work from home Shorter commutes to work Mandatory vacation days Paid leaves Recognition A common factor for all employees is recognition of the contribution they make to the company. There are many ways you can do this, for example: Annual reviews Appraisals Acknowledgment of achievements All of these things would allow employees to spend more time in personal pursuits or with family. The result would be an improvement in the quality of life. How Employee Engagement Differs From Job Satisfaction Fact: 67% of job seekers focus on the diversity highlighted in any job posting. An employee can be satisfied at work without feeling engaged because engagement is much more than being well paid and able to clock off at a reasonable time. Such factors just lead to job satisfaction, which is enough to retain most employees more often than not. However, only focusing on job satisfaction is not enough to ensure productivity. Whereas focusing on employee engagement will promote increased productivity. If any employee is engaged, they will be deeply involved and invested in their work. However, achieving engagement requires something more than what’s needed to drive satisfaction. Although, employee satisfaction is a good foundation on which to grow employee engagement and one in which it can thrive. If you can genuinely engage your employees, you can expect higher staff retention, customer satisfaction, productivity, quality, and innovation. Engaged employees also require less training time, have fewer accidents, and need to take less time off because of illness. Image source Conclusion If you want to take your company to the next level, exploring how you can improve employee engagement is critical. Invest in engagement, and it’ll go a long way toward strengthening your company’s foundation. At the end of the day, it also means you’ll have a happier workforce which equals a healthier bottom line. Author Bio: Maria Mladenovska is a content manager at ThriveMyWay.com - a one-stop resource for learning how to make money online on your own terms. She's an advocate of living life with passion, authenticity, and purpose. Maria believes in seizing every opportunity because nothing is impossible when you believe in yourself! You can connect with her on LinkedIn or Twitter.

HR is where you win and lose employee loyalty and engagement. People want to work for organizations that take their experience seriously and respond to their needs as employees. HR has grown in importance over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to play an important role in company growth moving forward. To leverage all a human resources department has to offer, below are 7 simple HR additions you can make that will improve employee experience today. 1. Easy Payment By this point, most companies are already using easy payment methods like direct debit to make sure employees are paid on time and with little to no hassle. You should be able to deposit your employees' pay directly to their bank accounts without any intermediaries and associated fees. Companies that are still handing out physical cheques are way behind the times, and you are obligating your employee to make a special trip to the bank to cash it. Direct debit is also nice because it can be set up to happen automatically, which means neither payroll nor the employee has to worry about it. 2. Make Use of Journey Mapping An employee journey map depicts the numerous stages that an employee goes through during their employment with a company. It allows you to identify pain points and important moments when employee input and action are required to bridge the gap between the existing and intended states. In short, a journey map allows companies and employees to manage career trajectories in ways that make sense for both parties. Employee journey maps that work the best always start with clearly defined outcomes and strong communication and joint planning with the company. Even if you do annual employee engagement surveys, each employee is at a different stage in their career, and it's tough to know how personal experiences affect key employee experience outcomes such as engagement and motivation. Set up a journey map on the employee's first day and maintain it throughout the tenure of their employment. This way, there will always be something to work towards 3. Standardized Onboarding Many businesses lack a new employee orientation programme, let alone a good standardized onboarding experience, despite the fact that it is vital to employee success. According to the Harvard Business Review, 33% of new hires look for a new job during their first six months of employment, which can be attributed in part to the quality of the onboarding experience. The answer to this problem is to create a measurable programme with defined objectives that are tailored to specific employees. Your sales reps should have a different onboarding experience than customer service reps while still maintaining a degree of standardization focused on providing an introduction to company culture, key people, etcetera To learn even more about improving the employee experience and increasing your competitive advantage while providing a fast return on investment, download our ebook now. Download now 4. Actually, Use Employee Feedback Many companies use employee engagement and feedback surveys to figure out where their employees are at, but not all of them act on the information. At the end of the day, a lot of these procedures are just lip service. Employees may experience a loss of trust as a result of this. Employees are more inclined to express their thoughts and interact if they believe they are being heard, but they may refrain from providing feedback if they believe they will not be heard. Following a survey, employees should be informed about the action plan being developed, and a person, or perhaps even committee, assigned to implementing the changes. 5. Take Benefits Surveys Many employees would prefer additional perks to a raise, demonstrating the importance of delivering relevant employee benefits in your talent retention and recruiting efforts. Employee benefit surveys can help you figure out which benefits your employees value the most. They seek to understand the value placed on certain perks, how they compare to those offered by other employers, and any future benefits that employees would want to see. PTO, health insurance, parental leave, retirement, stock options, free lunches, and other benefits are examples. These simple conversations could mean the difference between losing and retaining a high performer. 6. Use Stay Interviews Exit interviews are beneficial, but they do not help you retain an employee who is ready to depart. Stay interviews are one-on-one meetings between a manager and an employee that allow businesses to understand what matters to their employees and anticipate retention concerns. They should be an open forum for employees to express themselves and gain insight into their experiences. The goal is to uncover their reasons for sticking with the company and then working toward goals that keep them motivated by analyzing what works and what doesn't. This method also improves internal talent pipelines and provides valuable insight into areas where the organization can improve. 7. Don't Forget About Manager Training Personal relationships, particularly those between employees and their supervisors, are one of the most important aspects of employee experience. When managers don't know how to encourage or interact with their employees, employees feel less connected to the company and its objectives, which is not only bad for productivity but could lead to the employee looking for another job. Managers should be instructed in essential skills such as time management, diplomacy, delegation, goal setting, and delivering feedback and praise. Conclusion Improving employee experience starts in your human resources department. This is where employees are first introduced to company culture, it is where employee experience is monitored, managed, and fostered, and HR professionals exert an outsized influence on how an employee perceives his or her employer. Building a great HR team and processes takes some groundwork, but once it is up and running, you should have a finely tuned employee satisfaction-generating machine that is attentive to employee needs and goes out of its way to ensure employee retention. Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!

If you look at any successful businessman, whether a space entrepreneur or a stationery seller, you’ll likely discover that they have a resilient personality. Resilience plays a pivotal role in any leader’s career path. In this day and age, a lot of organizations value proactive employers. Every business is built around the idea of knowing and preparing for the future. When coronavirus hit us all, the world found itself in an unpredictable predicament. Employees and executives were searching for answers everywhere. Fortunately, even in a scary pandemic, there are things that leaders can do to move their organization in the right direction. The ever-shifting corporate landscape is tied to resilience at work - it helps leaders make better decisions that will steer an organization in the right direction. Resilience is a personality trait and skill that is crucial for a leader to develop, so how can you, as a leader, become more resilient in the workplace? First things first, let’s look at some popular misconceptions. Myths to dispel The truth is that there are many myths in the building resilience book, and it’s important to dispel these before we continue. A major fallacy exists in the way that people perceive resilience. Although it is indeed a trait, it is more useful to think of it as a skill. If you’re thinking that you can only be born with resilience, meaning that it’s not able to be acquired by anybody, this is the core of the fallacy. Like any other skill, you can flex your resilience training muscles over time to become stronger and a better leader. People also misinterpret resilience as overconfidence or arrogance. While it is true that resilient leaders seem self-reliant, tough, and unaffected by anxiety, what you see isn’t always what is true. Every individual, even the most resilient leader, needs help and learns from their mistakes. While there is no one size that fits all way of becoming more resilient, there are key things that you can do. Building resilience training spans five unique areas: physical aspects, professionalism, social aspects, psychology, and finance. As a leader, when you’re building resilience at work, you need to address each area. 1. Professionalism Let’s kick off the first of our five resilience factors by focusing on who a leader really is. In the workplace, building resilience in adults needs to start at the top and trickle its way down. Leaders are employees who need to take an active part in pursuing new opportunities for their company. There needs to be a certain level of innovation so that you can see an idea through to execution. Leaders ought to be adding attention to their surroundings, including what their employers are saying and doing, in order to grow their organization. As a leader, it’s imperative that you monitor both your teammates and also your own performance. You can give constructive feedback and receive it. By doing this, you will be able to collaborate effectively whilst also keeping boundaries in place to promote a healthy work-life balance. To learn even more about improving the employee experience and increasing your competitive advantage while providing a fast return on investment, download our ebook now. Download now 2. Physical resilience This time, many more people are working from home. This creates a lot of temptations that are unhelpful in the workplace, so it is important to emphasize the need for physical resilience. As a leader, adopt new habits and encourage your co-workers to adopt them too. Things such as regular exercise, meditation, breathing exercises, and a healthy diet are both great to adopt and fun to discuss with fellow employees. While, of course, you as a leader don’t want to overstep anyone’s boundaries, there is no harm in encouraging others to make better choices. Leaders can make an effort to reward employees that participate in better habits and personal development. As an example, you could provide employees with workout apps classes to help physical well-being and mental health. Those that participate could be rewarded within the organization. Any employee needs to feel like they have a comfortable work environment to operate in. People need to have boundaries that will allow them to shift focus from their work to their personal life with ease. 3. Psychological factors Recent times have been hard for the world of resilience psychology with the COVID-19 pandemic, but not all hope is lost. Try building resilience activities that focus on managing stress and anxiety. Employees need to be able to stay on top of things and manage their mental health. Check-in with your team and ask each member where they are investing their energy. People like to feel cared about and listened to, so exercise active listening skills within the workplace and your team. Every employee needs boundaries, and you as a leader can encourage employees to better their mental health, offering incentives much as we discussed above. 4. Social aspects Although the recent Coronavirus pandemic has encouraged us to socially distance, there are ways that leaders can engage with employees and have meaningful social interactions. You and your team members needn’t feel alone! Build up social resilience in yourself and others. There are numerous things that you can do as a leader. Why not schedule lunch meetings or hangouts during the day? Some companies like to replicate ordinary aspects of corporate life via meeting services such as Zoom, for instance, scheduling in “Weekly Water Cooler” chats. Showing an interest in individuals and reminding them that they are much more than simple employees, will help everyone feel more motivated to work and perform. 5. Finance Unfortunately, numerous employees have had to take on shorter work hours with cuts to their salaries. A lot of people have even been furloughed for months at a time, with no clear indication that their job will remain in the future. It has been a time of great uncertainty for all employees, but leaders need to be resilient. Companies need to help all of their staff by offering financial and budgeting resources that will assist them during their current hardships. You, as a leader, need to develop a tougher skin and do some clever calculations to ensure that your company’s finances won’t plummet during a time where many businesses are crumbling. One of the best things to do in building resilience is to think outside the box and come up with ideas for new revenue streams within your company. Are there opportunities that the coronavirus pandemic is, in fact, creating for your business? Perhaps there are gaps in the market that you can now fill? By exercising your creative problem-solving skills, you could save your job and other people’s. Resilience is key to success We hope to have demonstrated that you as a leader can grow stronger than ever before, even in spite of global hardships. The workplace is the perfect environment to build character and become the leader you’ve always wanted to be. Take note of any aspect of resilience theory that we’ve discussed, and try to apply these simple ideas today. What do you do to build resilience in the workplace? Do you watch videos? Do you have a go at building resilience worksheets? We’d love to hear what you’ve tried so far and how it’s gone. Tell us about your experiences in the comments section below. Author Bio: Emily Moore is an English programming teacher with a passion for space and blogging. She believes that current exploration should be focused on preserving our planet’s resources. With satellites circling the orbit, it is easier to get relevant data on any environmental changes. This, in turn, should help people quickly address any challenges.

You might begin by giving each team member personalized presents. Or if you don't have an idea for personalized gifts, you can give employees certificates or gift cards. You can also give mugs with each employee's name or photo, or some kind of merit award with their name on it. If you want something original, you can order a short poem from the essay writing website about each employee. Here are some more ideas to think about: Clothing with the company logo design; Bags with the company logo; Fun items to complement the workplace; Sweets; These were ideas for raising the team and corporate spirit. And what can you give an employee when there is a really good reason or a special day? Improving employee experience doesn'tneed to be difficult - or expensive! Learn how What are unforgettable appreciation gifts for employees? When you want to show your team members how much you appreciate their efforts, you'll want to choose gifts that are appropriate. Generic business presents are OK, but personalized corporategifts are preferable. Get to know the team member you want to give a present to and learn what they like. Then, based on their preferences, you may select an appreciation present that they will like. This may be a wine box, a gift card to their favorite merchant, or even personalized company stuff. Employee presents might be useful at work or at home for your employees. Something to keep their workplace organized, for example, or a technology gadget to boost their efficiency. The goal is to come up with something unique, practical, and appealing to your team. And, of course, that expresses gratitude for all of your efforts. Here's a list of 5 ideas for employee appreciation presents that you can give. Basket of Gourmet Foods. Choose from a wide range of delicious gift baskets based on the preferences and interests of the employee you're gifting it to. Cookies, dried fruits, sweets, chocolate bars, cheeses, non-alcoholic drinks, wine, and other gourmet delights are included in some of the baskets. Spa Relaxing Gift. Your staff will be grateful that you purchased a gift of relaxation for them. Bath foam, body sponge, bath bomb, aroma wax candle, scented sea salt for the bath, and mini matches are included in this spa day box set. After a long day at the office, it's the ideal way to spend the evening or weekend. Box for culinary masterpieces. Perhaps you work as a restaurant manager or know someone who enjoys cooking at home. The culinary box can contain organic extra virgin olive oil, sauces, garlic rosemary sea salt, Italian blend herbs, mustard, a book of recipes, a set of culinary accessories, professional apron. Vase with Small Bouquet. There are many different flowers to choose from, so find out which one they prefer. You can send a simple bouquet or decorate the office with a variety of stunning plants and bright flowers. Gift card. Perhaps you're stumped as to what to get your favorite staff as a present. Allow them to choose whatever they want with this employee appreciation gift idea. There are also eCards that employees can take and spend immediately, without going anywhere. Conclusion It doesn't matter if you run a big company or a small one; showing your employees that you care is essential. These employee appreciation ideas are just a few of the many options available to you. Employee appreciation should not be limited to one day a year, but rather should be integrated into your company's culture and organizational structure. Author Bio: Helen Wilson is a professional content writer. Her main spheres of specialization are Productivity and HR. She also studies topics about psychology and health.

Do you know the phrase “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”? If you’re in the HR world, chances are that it’s been quoted to you at least once - and it didn’t come out of nowhere. Regardless of how many plans you make or how much strategizing you do, your company culture can change everything about your organization. It will set the tone of your business above and beyond any strategic plan you try to implement. We talked to the VP of Human Resources at Tailor Brands, Yael Sapir-Zehavi, who shared a few tips on how she built a strong company culture at Tailor Brands - and how you can do the same. Let’s dive in! Establish Values to Live By Your company values are the foundation of your culture. Full stop. A clear set of values will help your employees understand what you stand for, and how they fit into that big picture in their day to day. “This is where the top-down aspects of creating company culture come into play,” said Sapir-Zehavi. “Our values aren’t what we want to be - they’re not a compass - but the way we do things. It was really important for us to have multiple examples so that we could easily share our culture with new hires. With clearly defined values, we have the ability to say, ‘This is how we do things at Tailor Brands, this is our DNA.’” At Tailor Brands, she went on to say, all of the values are really about making room for the people who work there: Start with trust (autonomy) Try, fail, repeat Make something beautiful Powered by results Once you establish your own values, they need to infuse everything you do within your organization from the bottom up - starting with the language that you use. Implement a Clear Company Language It may sound a bit obvious, but what differentiates humans from animals is the fact that we can speak with one another - and the language you use will define the reality of your company. That’s because language is the ability to put symbols on words and to communicate through those symbols. Both you and your team members can use the word “autonomy”, for example, and the fact that you both know what it is allows you to be able to expand on the idea. “If you have an organizational language that’s easy for you to use, then you’ll be able to implement the organizational culture that you want to promote. For example, while we do have a hierarchical structure [at Tailor Brands], our culture isn’t hierarchical at all. You’ll rarely find someone using the word ‘employees’ - we’re all ‘team members’ here, and everyone is an equal part of the team,” said Yael. “That’s one of the reasons establishing our values was an important part of building our culture,” she continued. “In meetings, it’s normal to hear things like ‘okay, try, fail, repeat; worse comes to worst, we won’t use it’ or, ‘You know what? Start with trust, go ahead and let’s see how it goes.’ We bring our values into our day-to-day conversation, our everyday language.” Creating this shared language ultimately helps foster the kind of environment you want to promote within your company. Walk the Talk ...but actually. Everyone says the same thing, that it’s super important to put your words (or values) into action, but what does that look like in practice? Yael addressed a few ways to walk the talk in three key areas: Your office design, the structure of your business, and the degree to which you let your team make their own choices. Let your office reflect your culture How you build and design your office is a great way to infuse the culture that you want to implement. “Our CEO has a desk in the open space, right next to our team,” Sapir-Zehavi emphasized. “He doesn’t have a big office with his door closed, and neither does HR, Finance, any of the upper management; all of the management sits within the larger team.” This is another way to reinforce the non-hierarchical culture at Tailor Brands. And, for companies that are still working over Zoom, office structure is especially important. “We believe that one of the things that help people have conversations via Zoom is the fact that everyone is equal. If you’re not at the office and you’re on a call with six people who are all sitting together in a room, you’re missing the small nuances of conversation. If someone tells a joke, the people in the room laugh, and you didn’t hear it - you’ll feel like an outsider. “ These seemingly small things can create such a big impact on the sense of an employee’s belonging in your company - which translates into how engaged they are. So what are some possible solutions? “We make sure that if we have big conversations over Zoom, no more than two or three people are in the same room so that people who are working from home don’t feel like outsiders. We’ll never have five people together in a meeting with one person on the outside if we can avoid it.” Yael went on to say that, as Tailor Brands is expanding and looking for a new office that can accommodate the growing team, it’s important to them to find a solution that supports a hybrid workspace. “We want to keep the open space concept, but we do need to consider a space that includes a lot of little ‘breakout’ rooms that will let people join larger Zoom conversations - without making those who are joining from home feel excluded.” Create an organizational structure that supports your values The structural way in which your team works is just as important to building the type of culture you want. For example, if you want employees to understand your KPIs, to know what they’re trying to accomplish, and that what they do has an impact on the company’s overall end goals, you have to have an organizational structure that allows them to do that. “We work in pods - small autonomous groups that mirror a business unit - on an aspect of the product, with everything you need in order to reach your goal. Pods make it easy to obtain an internal locus of control and create a sense of responsibility in each team member, making everyone feel like they’re essential to the team,” said Yael. Whether you work in pods or sprints, encourage Summer Fridays or a three-day work week, make sure that the organizational structure you implement reflects your values in some way. This could also include things like: Establishing clear KPIs for each team member at the beginning of every project Have regular team meetings in which you review and analyze results, both at the company level and the team level Quarterly presentations from each Team Lead Monthly offsites for strategic planning And, last but not least: Give your employees freedom of choice Once you have the foundation of what you believe in as a company, reflect it in any way you can! If making your employees feel seen is a priority for you, don’t make decisions for your team that they can make for themselves. This doesn’t have to (only) apply to important company decisions; for example, if you offer meal cards, why not let your team decide individually if they want to use Uber-Eats or DoorDash (or whichever meal cards are popular in your area)? Giving your employees the freedom to choose will empower them to make decisions in other areas, make them feel seen by your company, and give them the feeling that they have a seat at the table. Start Creating the Culture You Believe in Building a company culture isn’t a lofty goal; it’s a sensible process that’s not just top-down or bottom-up, but an integrative approach. So, start by defining what your values are and being explicit about them. Don’t just use them as a guide, but as a blueprint for how you do things in your company. “When you clarify what your values are, it helps people understand the rules of the game,” Sapir-Zehavi emphasized. Then, make sure those rules are consistent! Use language that helps people internalize these values, build an organizational culture that lets the team express themselves within it, and design your office as a place where you can share these values and evoke them. Follow these steps, and you’ll be able to set the tone for your company that both employees and management will connect to. Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time! You can connect with her on LinkedIn or Twitter.

It is a basic human need to be in a healthy, safe, and comfortable environment. People spend a decent amount of their time at work, sometimes more than they spend at their own homes, so having a workplace that is positive and safe is important to keep employees healthy, engaged, and productive. This is not only good for your employees, but it’s also good for your company. Unhappy employees cost U.S. companies an estimated $550 billion annually. Here are some ways you can create a better workplace atmosphere. 1. Provide proper onboarding and training Not providing new hires with a proper onboarding experience can have an immediate effect on their morale, confidence, productivity, and the way they view your business. First impressions are important when meeting new people, and they are just as important for new employees when entering a workplace. Here are some strategies you can use to improve the onboarding process. Make sure your new hires are properly introduced to their team and to the company's culture. Provide them with ongoing, individualized training with adequate time to learn and practice their skills. Set expectations and goals specifically for your new hire’s role, with clearly defined success metrics and milestones, and communicate with them about opportunities for growth. Make sure their workspace and technology is functioning, clean, and ready for them to get started. If you are onboarding for a remote team, these onboarding tips can help make the process run smoothly. 2. Be committed as a leader As a leader, you set the tone for the workplace. People want to be proud of not only where they work but also who they work for. Being committed to your team and to their personal and professional development can have a huge effect on your team's wellbeing, increasing productivity and reducing employee turnover. To learn even more about improving the employee experience and increasing your competitive advantage while providing a fast return on investment, download our ebook now. Download now 3. Develop a safe environment Working in an unsafe environment can have a huge impact on employees' mental and physical wellbeing. It can cause them to have increased levels of stress inside and outside of work, lowered productivity and engagement, increased chances of workplace errors or accidents, and increased absenteeism and turnover. Here are some signs and behaviors that may be present in an unsafe work environment. Sexual Harassment Sexual harassment can take the form of repeatedly asking for dates after the person has said no, sexually explicit talk, unwanted physical touch, aggressive staring or leering, and even requests for sexual favors. This study found that up to 38% of women experience sexual harassment in the workplace. Make sure you keep up with sexual harassment training requirements based on your state to help prevent and deal with these situations as they arise. Racial Harassment Racial harassment may be difficult to identify in the workplace. It can take the form of mocking a fellow team member's accent, using racial slurs or generalizations and telling derogatory jokes. If someone on your team is experiencing this type of treatment, they may be hesitant to bring it up for fear of it affecting their reputation, job security, or even their personal safety. Incorporating an anonymous system for whistleblowing can be a useful tool for your team to bring up concerns so these issues can be dealt with immediately to prevent legal repercussions. Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Harassment Sexual orientation or gender identity harassment involves offensive, derogatory, or demeaning comments based on a team member’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including a team member’s transgender status. Team members refusing to use the correct pronouns for their fellow team members or using a name that was assigned at birth and they no longer use are included as harassment and should not be tolerated. Personal Harassment Personal harassment is a type of harassment that is not part of a protected class, like gender, religion, or race. It is a type of bullying that can most likely be found in toxic work environments. Here are some ways it can be presented: Verbal harassment includes gossip, mockery, offensive jokes, or insults. Intimidation tactics in the form of threats, invasion of privacy, social exclusion, and spying. Work-related practices like giving wrongful blame, sabotaging or interfering with projects, or stealing and taking credit for ideas. Rationalizing or defending bullying, making excuses for acting inappropriately, and blaming the victim for being mistreated. Personal harassment is often psychological or verbal and not physical, making it harder for others to notice or to act. It is important to listen to team members bringing up concerns on how they or a fellow team member are being treated and to learn tips on how to manage and resolve conflict in the workplace. Disability harassment is when a team member is treated poorly or unfairly in the workplace due to a physical or mental disability. This can include team members using slurs, making inappropriate comments or jokes, and excluding them from work-related functions. In a study by the EEOC, 32.2% of workplace discrimination cases filed in 2018 were for disability harassment, which is only a tenth of a percent behind sexual harassment cases. 4. Hold everyone accountable It is important that your team knows what is expected of them with their performance and behavior. Without clearly set boundaries and objectives, you can’t expect them to give the results you need. Newly hired employees should be given a grace period, but after that time ends, they should be held fully accountable for their performance. Your team should all be treated as equals and given an equal amount of work. If you notice an employee not meeting expectations in their competency or behavior, try not to shift their workload onto a better-performing employee. This can put your top performers at an increased risk of burnout, while the underperforming employees’ growth will remain stagnant. 5. Let everyone have a voice Checking in with your team regularly is important to gather feedback and see where things might need some tweaking in your company. Both one-on-one and group meetings can be useful tools in keeping communication going. Act on the feedback you get and keep your team involved in the process, and when an idea is utilized let the whole team know who came up with the idea. When members of your team have ideas that are not utilized, open up a conversation with the team member and let them know that you value their input and walk them through why their idea was not chosen, but still encourage them to share their ideas next time. 6. Trust your team As a leader, your leadership style greatly affects your workplace environment. Leaders who micromanage create a hostile, unsafe work environment that lowers morale, increases stress, reduces productivity, and leads to poor employee retention. As a leader, you should provide support and guidance, and create a healthy space for your team to freely think act, and perform their best without fear of their actions being perceived as the wrong move. Your team was chosen for a reason, so let them show you what they are capable of and offer guidance when it is truly needed. Your team works hard. It is important to show your appreciation and say thank you for a job well done in a fair and equal way by avoiding these mistakes when recognizing your team. This will help keep your team motivated and productive, boost their morale, and provide them with a sense of security. Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!

The holiday season is almost upon us. This is the time of year when employees' minds are elsewhere and they lose motivation. After a long year of hard work, people are eager to take a break and spend quality time with family and friends. However, having unmotivated employees is not beneficial for the business, and as a manager, it is important to consider the best interests of not only your employees but also the company. Luckily, there are plenty of ways in which you can support and encourage your employees during the lead-up to the festive season. Below are ways that you can do to engage your employees during this season: 1. Encourage Employees to Take Time Off This tip seems counterintuitive because you want employees to continue working despite the distractions that the holiday season provides. However, working harder doesn’t equate to better performance. In fact, putting in more work than necessary results in employee burnout. Oftentimes a decrease in productivity is caused by fatigue. Therefore, instead of pushing employees to keep going over the festive period, encourage them to take a well-deserved break. Many employees feel as though management won’t support them if they submit a leave request form, so push through instead of asking for it. However, taking leave is incredibly beneficial for employees, and therefore the business as well. It is important to encourage a healthy work-life balance and to show employees they are valued as humans and not just as a number. At the same time, as a manager, it is essential that holiday leave is managed correctly. Ensure that all leave is submitted by a certain date and that the business can still function efficiently whilst people are off. 2. Acknowledge What Was Accomplished Over the Past Year Whilst people work to earn money, many people also find pleasure in their jobs and get satisfaction out of doing it well. As a result of this, employees want to feel valued and appreciated for their efforts. One of the best ways to do this is by acknowledging their accomplishments over the past year. There are multiple ways to show your appreciation to employees. One of them is by giving monetary rewards or bonuses to employees that have exceeded their goals. However, you don't have to reward employees with cash just to show your appreciation. Other options include a team dinner, team retreats, and verbally congratulating employees on what they have achieved. By verbally telling each of your employees how much you appreciate the work they put out and showing how much it impacted the bottom line, you increase employee engagement and morale in the company. According to a Great Place to Work Institute survey, 37% of employees consider recognition as one of the "most important drivers of great work." Since employees have proof that their work matters, you also inspire them to produce better work moving forward, knowing that it serves a purpose in the organization. As a result, this promotes a work culture of purpose-driven employees who take pride in the work they do in your organization. This kind of work environment also helps improve employee retention rates because nobody is willing to part from a company that acknowledges the value they provide. 3. Arrange Fun Activities or Parties While business is mostly about the bottom line, you should also allow time for fun and games. Arranging parties and activities leading up to the holiday break allows you to break the invisible barriers that exist between teams and departments in your organization. Employees within the same department stick together, which is understandable to a degree. However, engaging employees in your entire company to socialize together regardless of which teams they belong to should help create a festive atmosphere during the holidays and moving forward. Activities and parties also build camaraderie among employees which ultimately leads to higher levels of motivation. Events can range from something simple such as a team dinner to bigger events like parties. Themed parties are a great way to incorporate the festive spirit and allow employees to relax and enjoy themselves. Regardless of the type of event, it is also a good idea to include games and activities. Secret Santa, quizzes, and presentations are all good options. 4. Start Planning for the Year Ahead Although focusing on the holidays and having fun helps with motivation, it is also good practice to remind your employees that work will resume in the New Year. Interestingly, planning for the year ahead is a great source of motivation for your team. Planning is not always reserved for the end of the year; in most businesses management works on quarterly reviews and plans to go over how the past three months have been and what the focus is for the coming months. This allows businesses to assess what has been successful and what needs to be adjusted. Quarterly plans are even more important as the year comes to a close as businesses will want to hit the ground running in January. Planning can also be used as a tool to help with employee motivation by allowing employees to get involved and share their thoughts on what they believe would be beneficial in the coming year. Knowing there are goals and a plan in place for after the holidays often improves motivation because employees know there will be a new challenge after their time off. The end of the year is also a good time to consider employee development. Spend time chatting to your team to find out what drives them and how you can support them moving forward. By finding out their career goals and objectives, you can offer them developmental programs such as special projects, one-on-one coaching and mentoring, and other activities that will help unlock their potential of becoming future leaders in your organization. 5. Offer Stress-Free Services and Programs at Work Let’s face it: all this preparation for fun activities is just as taxing even if it’s done in the spirit of the holidays. The simple truth is that although the festive season is fun, it can also be exhausting. Many people find the holiday season incredibly stressful, and some employees may not feel refreshed even after some time off. To counter this, extra steps can be taken to provide employees with resources to help them deal with stress in productive ways. Some examples could include sharing wellness tips or doing breathing exercises in team meetings. Finally, you can offer corporate health programs to people in your company looking to get in better physical and mental health. These programs will invite fitness instructors and meditation specialists over to hold regular sessions after work for employees interested in getting to better shape. Conclusion The chaotic winter months can make people lose sight of your company goals to help you finish the year strong. And you definitely can’t achieve this if you don’t get your employees involved and motivated to do the remaining work at hand. However, just as important as producing work during the festive season, it is crucial to make your employees feel valued and appreciated in your organization. Therefore, instead of finding more ways to get them to hand over more deliverables at the end of the year, the tips above allow you to give them the credit they deserve after doing an excellent job for your company. Therefore, by following the ways to keep employees engaged and motivated during the holidays, you can boost employee morale and promote a stronger culture, both of which are important to business success. Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!

HR is becoming more complex all the time. For a start, it’s more hybrid, with gig employees making up a larger percentage of the workforce. In the near future, demand for gig workers is expected to rise from 77% to 94% for support services, and 63% to 94% for corporate staff. It doesn’t help that “job for life” is no longer part of the lexicon, so there is also a lot more movement into, out of, and within the enterprise. Today’s employees are looking for new challenges, positive corporate culture, and opportunities to advance their professional horizons and discover their personal talents and capabilities, and you need to meet these expectations if you hope to retain them. Close to three-quarters of workers are more likely to remain at a company that offers skill-building opportunities. On top of all that, the impact of the pandemic, plus the existing drive towards digital transformation, has made change management more pressing, more challenging, and more frequent, further complicating the picture. HR managers today need to gather employees’ data so as to keep track of all the capabilities of each individual, in order to know how best to support them, what to offer them, and how to put those skills to best use. But at the same time, you need to keep track of the makeup of your teams and the organization as a larger whole, so you can respond to changes in your industry and be ready to mitigate risks and seize opportunities. It’s not really possible to handle this without the help of new technology, but is tech all you need? Manual Performance Reviews Are No Longer Sufficient Performance reviews are crucial for encouraging employees and enabling employee growth. Ideally, they should be ongoing, constantly updating a representation of each employee’s strengths and weaknesses, but that’s a high bar to clear — unless you have tech to help you. Traditional performance reviews involve lots of emails and spreadsheets. You have to dog people to complete their forms, and it’s easy for information to get isolated. But HR platforms have user-friendly interfaces to make it easy for people to carry out continuous performance assessments without friction. That said, delivering the results of a performance review requires tact, sympathy, and compassion, capabilities that machines don’t possess. You need a living, breathing, and well-trained human who can convey the results in a way that the employee is able to hear and take in, so your employees get built up, not torn down. Mental Health and Employee Wellbeing Demand Tech and Human Synergy There’s no denying that a good HR manager has to be a people person, someone who can spot the employee who seems down, sluggish, or unmotivated. It takes a face-to-face conversation for an HR manager to check if an employee is waving or drowning. But remote work made that tough to achieve, and many organizations still haven’t returned to the office. Increased awareness around mental health challenges has raised the bar for managers to detect them and offer support, at just the same time as anxiety, bereavement, and long covid caused by the pandemic has raised the incidence of mental health issues. At this point, HR managers can’t do it alone. They need help from mental health apps, which can both provide regular support for those who need it, and identify those employees who need more than app-based guided meditations. Personalized Interactions At Scale Are a Step Beyond Human Capabilities It’s challenging for HR teams in a large enterprise to offer personalized training sessions and project opportunities, or suggest a new internal role, to the right employee at the right time. Many share these openings on a central forum and simply trust that employees will see them, but most notices go unseen. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)-driven HR tools can help. They analyze employees and constantly update their assessment of individual skills and skills gaps, interests, and intra-team dynamics to create a multi-faceted understanding of each employee and push relevant opportunities in their direction. Some also use augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) to create immersive, personalized training experiences. While these tools are invaluable, an enterprise still needs the holistic opinion of a human HR manager, both as part of and to confirm the data that a talent management platform might draw on. Technology Fatigue is Real Both employees and HR managers risk experiencing tech fatigue. Overloading employees with tech tools intended to improve their working environment, wellbeing, and employee experience can often end up backfiring. Likewise, HR managers with too many tech platforms can easily miss the wood for the trees, and fail to notice serious issues developing within the workforce. However, HR managers who have too big a workload can face burnout, especially when many are managing hybrid teams and dealing with the ongoing fallout of the pandemic. The right way to use tech is to automate tedious HR tasks and lighten the burden on HR teams, so managers can spend more time on the human interactions and assessments that AI can’t (yet?) take over. Successful HR Management Is All About Balance Tech is a vital way to augment the abilities of your HR team and help them do their jobs more effectively, but like in every sphere of the world of work, HR teams need to use human and machine capabilities in a balanced way. By applying AI and ML to automate time-consuming tasks, streamline performance reviews, support employee mental health needs, and improve talent management, HR managers can improve HR processes across the board. Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!

An effective employee communication portal for your company is of timeless importance. Today, innovative technologies like the employee intranet empower employees to work more productively and make fewer mistakes. Still, it’s important to set up your employee intranet correctly. Keep reading for 13 steps to follow when setting up your employee intranet. 1. Plan for Change There are many available employee intranet software solutions. Planning will help you narrow down your choices and ensure that you don’t get overwhelmed. You could begin the process by asking why you’re deploying an employee intranet software. You might also consider what challenges the intranet will enable you to solve. Most importantly, however, you want to ask yourself what outcomes you expect from intranet deployment 2. Define a Purpose With this in mind, you can accomplish many goals with an employee intranet. For instance, it can help with: Business process automation Document management Employee social engagement Knowledge management Teamwork support No matter your desired outcome, it’s helpful to document your intentions clearly. This statement of goals will guide the features you seek during the intranet platform selection process. It’s well worth the extra effort to ensure that a company communication portal can support your various workflows. 3. Outline Must-Have Functions When considering an intranet software solution, think about your company’s internal networking strategy. For instance, what problems do you need to solve? You might want a solution that creates a functional workspace for employees who seldom meet face-to-face. Alternatively, you may want to create a company culture where employees are more engaged and informed. Ultimately, you must question whether various software solutions will provide the needed functionality. In most cases, however, you’ll want a customizable solution that’s easy to use. It’s also important to choose a solution that will integrate easily with your existing systems. Also, your chosen intranet platform should serve as a centralized information hub, communications platform, and collaboration tool. 4. List Nice-To-Have-Functions Now, you can start to look at the functions that might make work-life more convenient or enjoyable. In other words, consider the extras or special features that would prove nice but aren’t mission-critical. For example, it might be nice if your company intranet resembled a popular social media platform. This resemblance would encourage faster adoption. Alternatively, you may want to select an intranet platform that integrates with your existing tools. This kind of capability will make it easier for you to automate business processes. 5. Get Employee Feedback It’s employees who’ll use your company intranet. With this in mind, it’s important to find out their needs. By collecting employee feedback, you can also figure the overall structure needed for your company intranet. This information will also help you pinpoint optimal features and determine governance policies. For instance, you might need an intranet that supports employee collaboration. In that case, you’d talk to your teams about the features that they need to support their daily work. 6. Choose an Intranet Platform Now that you’ve fully assessed your wants and needs, you can start to look at software solutions. At this stage, you’ll need to assemble a team to research the market and identify potential intranet solutions. It’s essential to narrow down your choices to solutions that align with your wants and needs. Here, it’s important to remember your previous research as you review potential vendors. Today, nearly any company will benefit from a modern, social intranet. For this reason, many companies trust a solution like LIKE.TG to support their employee culture and experience. 7. Develop an Employee Intranet Policy Before launching an employee intranet software, it’s critical to establish a usage policy. For example, you may want to keep as many important documents as possible on your intranet. Relying on a mix of different software solutions wastes time. Likewise, hunting for information can prove frustrating. In this regard, it may help to review your existing communication challenges. An understanding of your challenges will help you to develop an effective intranet policy moving forward. 8. Establish Accountability It’s also important to designate an intranet manager. This individual will oversee your internal networking strategy. For example, they’ll manage content sharing and restrictions as it applies to your employee intranet. It’s also important to choose someone who’s responsible for publishing information and maintaining various parts of your intranet. This individual must also ensure that your intranet content stays up to date. 9. Prepare for Launch It’s also vital to plan how you’ll launch your employee intranet. For example, your company may have had an existing system in place. If so, you can use that system to establish baseline metrics. It will help you to develop new adoption and engagement goals for your new employee intranet. It’s also important to make sure top-level managers are on board with the employee intranet deployment. The acceptance of company change starts at the top and trickles down. With executive leaders on board, employee acceptance will follow. You may also consider holding special training sessions. During the sessions, you’ll teach frontline managers about the new employee intranet. With this new knowledge, they can easily promote the new intranet and answer employee questions. 10. Roll Out Your Intranet Rolling out an employee intranet will prove different for every company. Usually, however, large organizations require a more complex deployment. Also, a larger company will require more time for the deployment of a new employee intranet. However, all companies can benefit from testing a new employee intranet before full deployment. During this testing stage, you’ll also want to establish the roles and responsibilities of employees. For instance, some employees might handle training. Others might oversee governance and policies. Yet other employees might manage content creation and approval. These are the kinds of responsibilities you can solidify during your test rollout. 11. Establish Access Controls It’s critical to establish access controls as needed. For example, you’ll most likely need to restrict certain areas of your intranet or keep your information confidential. You may even want to establish controls where some sensitive information is viewable or searchable only by authorized personnel. It’s important to identify these kinds of security concerns quickly. You must address them immediately to ensure the security of your company information. 12. Show Employees Around It’s important that your staff understands everything that your employee intranet can do. They must also know how to use it. It helps to highlight the challenges that the new employee intranet will help you overcome. For instance, you may have selected a new intranet to give employees better access to your employee directory. Alternatively, you may have wanted to boost employee engagement by providing employees with the same features as a social media site. By choosing an employee intranet solution with this kind of capability, you can promote better real-time communication. You can also empower employees to experience more meaningful interactions and work more productively. 13. Promote the Employee Intranet By deploying a new employee intranet, you’re asking employees to learn a new software system. It’s important that they understand how they’ll benefit from it. It’s also important for them to understand how to use it. With this in mind, it’s essential to model the behavior you want to see from your employees. Also, it’s important for managers to check the new employee intranet regularly. Managers must make sure that they’re available to answer questions. They should also make themselves available to acknowledge feedback. Also, it’s important for managers to show employees that the new intranet is a good thing. For example, management should make use of the employee intranet to give employees praise. This kind of positive feedback will help to promote a faster uptake of the new employee intranet. Benefits of an Employee Intranet Hopefully, our tips will help you to create a modern employee intranet. More importantly, we want you to enjoy the full benefits of the new software. It takes time and effort to deploy a new employee intranet. Still, the extra work is well worth the effort. When done correctly, a contemporary employee intranet can promote information accuracy. It will also help to improve employee productivity. Most importantly, an up-to-date employee intranet can help to eliminate knowledge silos. It will enable your company to benefit from the full insights of your company’s collective knowledge. Things to Avoid Again, employee intranet deployment is different for every company. However, there are a few things that every company should make sure not to overlook. For example, every company should establish documented rules about how staff members are allowed to communicate using the employee intranet. It’s also important to provide training for employees who will use the new platform. They must understand how to navigate through the new system and use its features. Also, it’s vital to remember that an employee intranet contains important data. Today, any data requires security measures. Most companies secure their company intranet with logon credentials. However, in today’s environment, it’s vital to take security a step further. It’s good practice to secure your information with a firewall that protects your intranet from the outside world. It’s also important to encrypt data that lives on your company intranet. You should also backup your data regularly to prevent information loss. Boost Engagement With the Best Intranet on the Market Hopefully, our guide on setting up your employee intranet has given you valuable insights. By following our tips, you can make sure that your company gets the most out of an employee intranet deployment. If you’re looking for the best employee intranet software available, LIKE.TG can help. Our Workmates employee intranet software will give you a critical edge in promoting teamwork, boosting morale, and driving employee engagement. More importantly, it’s a modern, easy-to-use social intranet platform that really works. Don’t take our word for it. Request a free demo to learn more about how our employee intranet software can help you to boost employee engagement. Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!

For years, businesses have been diligently catering to their customers' needs. Their USP, corporate ethos, mission statement, and branding are all carefully crafted to surpass the expectations of their client base. Business KPIs and strategies have always been focused on retaining customers and acquiring new ones. In terms of profit and ROI, this makes complete sense. And the happier those customers are, the more they will spend on your products and services. That is still the case today and it no doubts always will be. But a shift is happening in how employers handle the expectations of their staff. In roughly ten minutes you’ll be provided with some invaluable insights including what EVPs are, how to implement them, and how they can drive profits and save money. That's our Reader Value Proposition if you will. What Are EVPs? You might be thinking: this is nothing new. Surely Employee Value Propositions are just perks worded in business jargon, right? Well, it's a touch more complicated than that. Perks are across-the-board; one-size-fits-all benefits intended to keep employees happy. They’re basic rewards that generally don't change over time. EVPs are a cultural shift whereby you invest just as much in your employees as you do in your customers. It means you extend your ethos, mission statement, and KPIs towards retaining staff and maintaining their wellbeing. That means investing time and money. It means researching, planning, and reviewing. It means providing financial and non-financial benefits to attract and retain the best talent. After all, it's your staff who keep your customers happy and find you, new customers. If you want the best customers then you need the best staff. Why Do You Need EVPs? Today's top talent have a ton of offers and options. Organizations have long-term strategies for acquiring the best candidates, so prospects can afford to take their time and evaluate their choices. Remote working means that businesses can cast a global net to find the best talent for a role - but so also can prospects. Therefore, if you want the best, you face international competition. How to Implement EVPs Your EVP strategy should be unique to your industry, your organization, and to your employees. Consult your current and former staff - if they've moved to working remotely, then use the most secure video conferencing. When someone leaves your organization, ask them why. What were the push-and-pull factors in their decision? Employee surveys are an efficient method for gathering data. Ask questions such as: What do you like about working for the company? What do you dislike about working here? Which of your tasks do you find challenging or difficult? Which of your tasks do you find easy or repetitive? How long do you envisage working for the company? Can you see a clear line of progression within the company? Is there any training or development which would benefit you? Do you ever feel overworked or stressed? When and why? Is there anything more the company could do to ease your workload? Are you able to “switch off” when you're not working? Are you happy with the salary and financial rewards you get from the company? Do you feel stable in your position? Do you feel you get adequate time off work? Which of our current employee benefits do you most appreciate? Can you think of any other benefits that the company can consider? If you get any recurring responses then it's probably worth addressing the issue but you should get a contrasting range of responses. Your EVP strategy needs to be just as adaptable and diverse as your workforce. Examples of EVPs Many EVPs are specific to their industry, but let's look at some of the broader EVPs which can apply to most organizations. Financial EVPs As well as basic salary, you might have other incentives to reward your employees, namely: Performance-based bonuses Annual bonuses Sponsored vacations Pension plans Health insurance Paid time off Complimentary meals Free refreshments Discounts for company products Non-financial EVPs Although not financial incentives, many non-financial EVPs do still require investment and will need budgeting. They look like this: Team building exercises Stability and security Equality Flexitime Camaraderie Work/life balance Standardized comms Here, work/life balance and standardized comms are related. Standardizing your communications to a single channel or has numerous benefits. It means all your comms are in one place so messages don't get lost or forgotten. Lastly, it means that when the working day is done, your staff can shut down their comms channel. They can enjoy quality time without being interrupted by work messages. This reduces stress, aids quality of sleep, and improves diet - all of which will make your team more efficient and productive during work hours. Career-based EVPs For your most ambitious and driven employees, career-based EVPs will be key. They can include: Career development Technical training Improving and refining current skills Acquiring brand new skills Buddying and mentoring Management skills Travel opportunities Learning new languages Medical and mental health training Focussing on the last point on the list, it's a good idea to have an employee with mental health training in each department and remember to display their names where your staff can see them. If anyone has a problem, they’ll have a list of people they can talk to and can choose to talk to individuals they feel most comfortable with. Automation An EVP that doesn't comfortably fit in one category is digital transformation acceleration rpa. This means that repetitive and menial tasks can be automated. Your staff members are freed up to do work that is more meaningful, creative, and rewarding. Not to mention more profitable! Customize your EVPs Tailor your EVP strategy to different age groups, interests, ambitions, and requirements. Let your employees map out their own EVP journeys. Mapping your ideal customer is a well-known marketing technique. It can also be used for recruitment, so try mapping out your perfect employee and see the journey it takes you on. What kind of role would attract them? What benefits can you offer to make you stand out? How would you financially incentivize them? How can you help to further them and develop their career? What working environment would they enjoy? What are their long-term ambitions and goals? Would something as simple as a virtual phone number help them? On a Mission Your EVP plan is there to attract prospects - so tell them about it! The first thing to do is write your EVP ethos into a mission statement or promise. It might look something like this: "Joe's Shack started as a family business in 1978. We now employ more than 300 people but we still feel like a family. We believe that each employee is different and important. We will inspire you, motivate you, and expand your skillset. Tell us your dreams and ambitions and we will help you realize them. Join the Joe's Shack family." Sell your EVP plans in the same way you promote products. It should feel like a product in that it is something that people will want to buy into. Word of mouth is great for recruitment. If your staff is well looked after and happy, they’ll tell the world about it. Word will soon travel throughout your industry that you are a great employer. You can spread the word as well. Write about your EVP plan on your company website, socials, blogs, and video channels. Let your customers see how much you value your people. Added Value Businesses are always happy to invest in productivity-boosting technology like call recording software, or task management solutions. However, they tend to forget about employee satisfaction. It's just as important, and investing in welfare-boosting incentives is a surefire way to improve the employee experience. Customers like using companies that have happy employers. A strong EVP will boost sales and provide a great ROI. You won't have to spend as much time or money on your recruitment campaigns. People will come to you and ask for work instead of you having to go to them. Furthermore, if you can retain your staff, you save money on training new employees. Review and refine Times change and so do people. You innovate and adapt to meet customer expectations and you should do the same for your staff. The principles of EVP mean that your staff are more engaged and are happier to talk to you. They will share their ideas and not just about EVPs, but about business in general. They might suggest new techniques and technologies like workflow process software. Your EVP plan should be under constant review. Stay ahead of your competitors and keep your best talent. Long-term Links EVPs mean you will be better placed to retain your staff and it also helps maximize their potential while you work together. You can't always keep hold of an employee; an employee might want to work in a different industry, for example. They might emigrate. Or, they might even be dealing with external emotional factors such as a long-distance relationship. If things don't work out, they’ll hopefully come back and work for you once more. You see, some relationships are just too good to give up. Author Bio: Erik Bergman co-founded Catena Media and helped grow it to over 300 employees and a $200 million valuation before stepping away to start Great.com, an iGaming organization that donates 100% of its profits to environmental charities. In addition to running a successful online affiliate business, Erik also hosts the Becoming Great podcast, shares entrepreneurship tips with his more than 1 million social media followers, and contributes to sites like Entrepreneuer.com, Business Insider, Foundr, and Forbes.

Whether you’ve been working from home for years like I have managing Great.com or you’ve just started for the first time, it’s so important to establish boundaries between your home life and your work life when they intermingle so much. Doing so can help you stay productive, focused, and satisfied in both your personal and professional lives. One of the most effective ways to make boundaries is by reducing both personal and job-related distractions during your workday. Here are 10 ways to remove distractions while working remotely, create a good at-home work environment, and better manage your work-from-home productivity. 1. Create a Dedicated Workspace When you have space you can go to that’s just for work, you can better prevent home-related distractions from interfering with work, shift from your work mindset to your home mindset when the day is done, and set healthy boundaries for work-life-balance. Turn an extra bedroom into an office or office/guest room. Set up your desk and your computer and work equipment, decorate the room in a way that helps you feel like you’re at work and shut the door during work hours. If you don’t have an extra room you can transform, create barriers by hanging sheets to create fake walls or setting up a divider of bookshelves or partitions. 2. Know What Easily Distracts You Think about the factors that could interrupt your day while working at home: kids, a partner, roommates, TV, the internet, your phone, chores. Make sure any potential distraction is out of sight, out of mind while you work. Hang a “busy” sign on your closed office door, put your phone in the other room, and keep the TV off all day. Avoid potential distractions as much as you can to stay productive and use your time on the clock wisely. 3. Start the Day With Self-Care Going to the office every day meant following a getting-ready routine. Now that you’re working at home, stick with your typical routine as this can signal to your brain and body that it’s time for work. Then, use this time (or, at least some of it) to get ready for the day in ways you may not have been able to before. Start your day with some exercise, like a jog or yoga, to promote stress relief, focus, and positivity. You could also take your time making your morning coffee, tea, or breakfast, journaling, reading, meditating or doing any other activity that allows you to start on the right foot. 4. Block Media and Sites That Might Distract You When working from a computer, tablet, and/or smartphone, you have access to social media, online videos, streaming, games, and more. Consider installing a site blocker extension on your browser to block your access to specific sites, like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and others that you may be tempted to open while working, for a period of time. That way you can’t act on that temptation and can better focus on your work. 5. Play Background Music Neither total silence nor background noise is good for avoiding distraction. Put on some headphones and play background music that’s great for enhancing productivity, helping with focus, and promoting positivity. Some genres include classical music, upbeat pop, lo-fi, and other instrumental music. Many sites, including YouTube and Spotify, have playlists dedicated to work-from-home background music. Just make sure your site blocker isn’t actively preventing your access to these sites. 6. Put Your Phone on “Do Not Disturb” If you need your phone on you, consider putting it on “Do Not Disturb.” This feature, typically found in your smartphone’s settings, blocks calls, texts, and other alerts from your phone unless it’s an emergency. You can customize which types of messages are blocked and which can come through. For example, you might block all notifications, texts, and calls from all numbers except household members, just in case they need to get ahold of you. 7. Schedule Breaks Throughout Your Workday Working straight through a shift rarely results in a fully productive day because you have natural ebbs and flows in your focus and engagement. In addition, studies show that employees feel guilty for taking breaks, including a full lunch break each day, instead of constantly working. But taking breaks throughout the day helps you get a few minutes of rest here and there and return to work refreshed each time. Schedule breaks throughout your day so that you force yourself away from your workspace and into an activity that allows you to recharge. Use a calendar app, like Google Calendar, iCal, or Outlook Calendar, to outline blocks of time that are dedicated for different tasks and work activities. Then, every few hours, schedule a break and take it. You can even try the Pomodoro Technique to break your work up into 25-minutes sprints of work and 5-minute breaks between them. This proven method can ensure you take much-needed rest during your workday and reduce the temptation to give in to distractions. 8. Save Household Chores for After Work One of the perks of working remotely is that you can handle household responsibilities practically any time. However, shifting back and forth between household chores and professional work can be jarring for your mind and body, which can reduce productivity in both activities. Save chores for when you clock out, just as you would when working at the office, to avoid ineffective multitasking. 9. Share Your Schedule With Others If your distractions come from others, like children, roommates, or colleagues, needing your attention, you can try sharing your schedule with them so everyone knows when you are and are not available to be with them. Consider putting a copy of your work schedule on the fridge, emailing a copy to your team, or posting updates on your remote work messaging app, like Slack or Microsoft Teams. 10. Know When To Give In to a Distraction As previously mentioned, your attention span and motivation naturally ebb and flow throughout the day. And sometimes, your mind and body are both in agreement that it’s time to stop for a break or for the day. Know what your mind’s and body’s signs are that you need to give in to distraction and shift your mindset. That way you can always put your best self forward when working instead of working less efficiently and effectively when your mind and/or body are tired. Distractions can negatively impact your productivity, effectiveness, and work-life balance, no matter the role or industry you’re in. That’s why it’s so important to understand what distractions you have to manage while working at home and employ strategies to reduce them and their impact on your work. Author Bio: Erik Bergman co-founded Catena Media and helped grow it to over 300 employees and a $200 million valuation before stepping away to start Great.com, an iGaming organization that donates 100% of its profits to environmental charities. In addition to running a successful online affiliate business, Erik also hosts the Becoming Great podcast, shares entrepreneurship tips with his more than 1 million social media followers, and contributes to sites like Entrepreneuer.com, Business Insider, Foundr, and Forbes.

One of the most frustrating parts of recruitment is employee retention. Keeping hold of talent requires constant hard work. If your employers don’t feel valued, or you’re not helping them grow professionally, they will look elsewhere. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to help make your employees feel valued while promoting progression. Through professional development, employees will get something out of working with you. According to Udemy, 42% of people rate professional growth as the most important factor when deciding where to work. When you’re putting your HR plans into place, you should incorporate some or all of the following employee growth strategies. Provide Professional Coaching Business leaders can nurture employee development by providing coaching and mentoring programs. Rather than bombarding staff with a constant stream of orders, they should work with employees to build a strong professional relationship. This works the same way as coaching does, and requires a management system based on effective education, direction, and communication. Although you should be taking on the principles of coaching within your management, this isn’t always attainable within small businesses. Therefore, you can outsource employee coaching to a company like Placement to help them achieve professional growth. Through Placement.com, your staff can access fully vetted work coaches who can support them in achieving their goals. You can offer this service as a benefit of employment to all new employees and avoid problems with hiring new employees. Offer Regular Feedback Carrying out monthly employee appraisals is important. However, why should an employee only get useful feedback once a month? The answer is simple - they shouldn’t. Instead, you should strive to offer regular feedback in real-time. Wakefield Research carried out a study and found that 90% of employees would benefit from having their shortcomings highlighted regularly. If you wait until the annual review to offer feedback, you aren’t offering enough time for your workforce to grow. As a business leader, you need to work with your HR team on a way to monitor employees and assess their strengths and weaknesses. Then, whether it’s you or a member of the management team, someone needs to relay the findings to employees. By doing this, you will find work improves and productivity remains high. Cross-Train Staff These days, with high amounts of work taking place online, there is a fine line between roles. Therefore, businesses should focus on teaching all areas of the business. For example, a project manager can put a plan into place, but they likely don’t have hands-on experience of front-line sales. Offering the opportunity to cross-train will help to create a working culture built on mutual appreciation and communication. One of the most obvious places to look for this divide is in restaurants. Historically, chefs belittle the work of the server and vice versa. The chef will view their work as more tiring and demanding, which it is physically. However, the server needs to deal with people all day while running around headless. In this instance, restaurants should cross-train their staff. When each side experiences the other, they immediately gain an understanding which helps the business run more effectively. To delve deeper into the major hurdles faced by HR professionals in this dynamic industry, check out 8 Major Challenges for HR in the Food and Beverage Industry. Conferencing and Networking Whether it’s online or calls for a business trip, you should send your staff to conferences. While they’re away, they will meet like-minded people that they can learn from. Further, they will learn from external sources and thought leaders and be able to bring back their knowledge to benefit your business. Plus, who doesn’t love to get paid to get away from the mundane? Recognize Achievements Making people feel important is a great asset for boosting employee retention rates. As a business, you can do this by celebrating achievements regularly with a staff recognition tool. When someone does well, and they are told so, they are more likely to be productive in the future. When you reward exceptional rewards, you need to set the bar. You can do this by introducing different levels of achievement, and throwing in a fantastic reward at the higher end. By doing this, you will create a culture based on working hard and reaping excellent rewards. If you keep the rewards exciting and celebrate achievements regularly, you will build up a loyal workforce. Further, you may find that other people hear about the way your company works. No credit card needed Less than 5 min to set up Soft Skill Development The world of work is built on skill. Soft skills refer to those related to personality traits that allow for success. Although you may not know they’re called soft skills, you will have heard of them. They include time management, communication, delegation, leadership, and many more. You need to begin recognizing these soft skills and providing sufficient training to enhance them. Doing this will help you boost productivity across the entire workforce. Soft skills are vital but they are often overlooked. You can have an employee who has been at the company for years, knows their job, and gets work done but isn’t cut out for management. Alternatively, you can have fantastic leadership qualities but not be the most efficient worker. However, these qualities would set them apart perfectly for the world of delegation. Productivity is imperative, but soft skills are what counts towards creating an amazing work atmosphere. Create Challenging Projects People love to be challenged because it demonstrates capability. Therefore, assign special projects to groups that call for teamwork. Throughout the process they will share skills, learn from each other, and show their abilities. If you attach rewards and feedback to the exercise, you’re onto a winner. Learning Management Systems A Learning Management System (LMS) does what it sounds like it should. They offer a scalable solution to businesses to provide and monitor employee growth. Through the LMS, you can create learning materials and track progress. Then, if you need to have evidence of staff training, you can generate reports. Streamlining the learning process using an LMS will save considerable amounts of time and revenue. Rather than hire numerous professionals, you can create materials for everything all in one place. Say goodbye to lengthy staff training sessions, and hello to efficient professional development Consistently Find Growth Opportunities The way the world works is changing all the time, and there will constantly be new and valid needs of the employee. As a successful business, you should keep up to date with HR trends. No business should create a professional and development strategy in the beginning and never update it. Employees are a business’s most important asset; therefore, they should be treated in high regard. Be Transparent No matter what you do, some employees will only be satisfied if they know that they’re working towards a promotion. Rather than dangling the carrot and never delivering, you should be 100% transparent on how much room for progression there is. That way, if an employee wants to stay, they know what they’re getting themselves into. Employee retention rates are one of the most difficult aspects of recruitment. To keep hold of your employees, you need to provide personal and professional development. You can do this by regular feedback, celebrating excellence, training staff, and allowing opportunities for networking. There are many more employee retention strategies than those listed above. However, if you take on the advice above, you are on to a great start. Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time! HR Mistakes Impact Your Entire Organizaion Lear how to avoid the 12 most common mistakes with our free ebook Download Now hbspt.cta.load(549864, '728c69f5-dcbd-411d-845d-945a82deaa2e', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); if(checkPopupCookie("popupcookie-wm","close-wm-popup")) { setCookie('popupcookie-wm', 'close-wm-popup', "10"); }; $('#close-homepage-popup').click(function () { $('.homepage-popup').fadeOut() $('.homepage-mobile-overlay').fadeOut(); }); $('.homepage-mobile-overlay').click(function (e) { $('.homepage-mobile-overlay').fadeOut(); $('.homepage-popup').fadeOut(); }); $('.btn.btn--orange-action').click(function (e) { setCookie('popupcookie-hrc', 'close-hrc-popup', "10"); $('.homepage-mobile-overlay').fadeOut(); $('.homepage-popup').fadeOut(); });

When things are going well in your company, it's easy to overlook human resources management. After all, we have far more urgent issues to deal with every day. Depending on the situation, working with employees can be joyful and gratifying or time-consuming and terrifying. With each new year, companies face a new set of problems as the HR team changes to meet the needs of a fast-paced, digitally-driven environment. HR managers have their hands full, from the #MeToo movement to a greater emphasis on paid leave and new pay equality employment laws. Big and small businesses will eventually aim to find, develop, and retain personnel in more efficient and effective methods in 2021, resulting in competitive advantages and improved culture. But what are the most pressing issues in HR practices in the workplace? We've whittled the list down to the five most prevalent challenges faced by HR professionals, along with reasons. 1. Rigid protocols (lack of flexibility) Simply, getting a new printer/scanner connected to your office's Wi-Fi is a bureaucratic headache these days! A healthy company culture is created by a mix of good management and flexible working methods, which inspires employees and influences their overall happiness and job satisfaction. Many employees have recently felt unsupported in their jobs, blaming tight hours, a lack of flexibility, micromanagement, and inadequate leadership. Those who were provided flexibility and support in their jobs, on the other hand, highlighted flexible hours and the freedom to regulate their own working time as reasons for their pleasure, which was bolstered by effective training, regular meetings and having "understanding" bosses. Evidently, allowing employees to manage themselves and fit their work around their personal obligations while investing time to engage with them personally on a regular basis, leads to a happy, loyal, and productive workforce that is less likely to leave the company. 2. Incentives/perks evaluated for measuring success It's difficult to stress how most managers and those who advise them believe in the restorative potential of incentives in a performance review. Several investigations in laboratories, businesses, classrooms, and other settings have found that rewards often impair the very processes they are supposed to improve. The findings show that the failure of any incentive programme is attributable to the insufficiency of the psychological assumptions that underpin all such schemes, rather than a flaw in the programme itself. Some executives argue that the only flaw in incentive programs is that they don't reward the proper behaviors. However, these executives are unaware of the psychological variables at play, as well as the dangers of maintaining the status quo. Punishment and gratification are two sides of the same coin. They are both manipulative, they have a burdensome effect. Offering a bonus to someone who appears unmotivated is similar to offering saltwater to a thirsty person. Bribes in the workplace are simply ineffective. Aligned flow of work (lack of a balanced pyramid structure) Middle management, sandwiched between leadership and individual contributors, often appears to be out of touch with the organization's priorities and initiatives. If the next level of management doesn't understand or accept the change, a bottom-up approach can only go so far. Alignment drift is aided by uninvested management. For a variety of reasons, managers can stray from business aims and initiatives. Some managers are discovering strategic planning methods for the long term out of the misaligned middle despite being constrained by how they're judged and trapped in the thick of leadership disagreements. When the human eye is drawn to a visual representation of an issue, it tries to solve it like a puzzle. This is why charting the complete end-to-end flow of work and resource planning throughout the entire system is so effective: it allows everyone to see the bigger organization's collective demands in relation to their individual departments. Connecting teams with corporate goals through first-hand engagement in the challenges is an eye-opening exercise. Repairing misalignment takes work, but the payoff to the labor market is enormous. 4. Lack of provisions for personal development Gone are the days when staff could get away with performing the same thing for decades. Individuals are expected to actively participate and contribute in other departments, as well as the organization's general productivity, in today's environment. This brings up the topic of self-improvement. Personal development is necessary not only for professional advancement but also for the organization's existence. No company wants to keep someone who is resistant to change and underperforms in unusual and unforeseen scenarios. Unfortunately, few organizations provide an environment conducive to training programs. In the due process of self-development, employees have the inkling to pursue their own career objectives and interests, as well as build confidence and become more self-sufficient. Training and developing not only benefits the employees but also the employers in the following manner: Significantly enhances employees' skills and performance. Creates an upwardly mobile workforce so one may promote more frequently from within. Boosts productivity by maximizing the value of one's staff to the company. As people are constantly updating their abilities, provisions for self-development can help your company handle change more successfully. 5. Unidirectional Communication (Mostly downwards) When firm executives and managers exchange information with lower-level employees, this is referred to as downward communication. This remains the primary mode of communication for almost all companies. Downward communication conveys information that aids in informing employees about important organizational changes, new goals, or strategies; providing organizational performance feedback; coordinating initiatives; presenting an official policy (public relations); or improving worker morale or customer relations. But downward communication has several drawbacks, including the following: Issues with interpretation Because of the distortion effect and the sluggish feedback for message clarification, downward communication poses interpretation issues. It's not inspiring This style of communication does not help with motivation because of the sluggish feedback and reliance on official channels of communication. Morale plummets Downward communications can have a detrimental influence on company morale due to the time it takes to communicate and the issue of distorted signals. Therefore, unidirectional communication as such needs to be altered soon to uphold performance standards and objectives. Humans at the heart of the employee experience are the future of HR. Do you want to lose your top talent at an alarming rate? Continue to say, "That's just the way we do things." ‘ The old techniques of doing business don't hold up in today's workforce. Human experience management is mission-critical if you want to keep staff engaged to execute their best work. After all, the previous year has demonstrated that it is people who make a company special. You win when you place employees at the heart of everything. While work could have come to a halt in 2020, HR attitudes, processes, tools, and technologies ensured that it didn't - and HR leaders aim to sustain some of those achievements as the future of HR unfolds. Parting Thoughts We can see a road forward for HR that will necessitate some fundamentally fresh thinking about what HR does and how it is designed to deliver. The path forward could begin with a phased implementation of workforce shaping or a trial project in one of their business divisions to test a more digital experience. These temporary initiatives, in our opinion, will only be beneficial if they spark a more comprehensive rebuilding of HR skills. As the business leaders prepare to emerge from its imposed seclusion, HR professionals have an opportunity to reinvent their playbooks for the future of HR from the ground up. Author Bio: Parth Shah - Co-Founder, COO |DevX With 10 years of experience in operations and training, Parth is a go-to person for his team and even a multitude of growing start-ups. His knack lies at spotting and supporting start-ups, helping them streamline their processes, and even take their ventures to the next level. After successfully establishing two start-ups and exploring the start-up landscape up-close Parth has learned the nitty-gritty of the industry, which he now shares with fellow entrepreneurs.

Candidate sourcing proves that the best talents for your company could be just around the corner. A study carried out by Entelo revealed that 73% of talent acquisition professionals found highly qualified candidates through sourcing efforts, as compared to other sources, like inbound applicants,reports HR Daily Advisor. So, it’s no surprise that 87% of these talent acquisition professionals have active outbound sourcing efforts to find the most qualified talents for their company. Similarly, if you want to acquire good candidates for your workplace, then you need to follow these sourcing techniques: 1. Establish a strong brand as an employer Before conducting a search, you need to establish your brand as an employer. Having a good reputation can accelerate your sourcing process and even reduce your hiring costs by 32%,according to Gartner. Moreover, a strong employer brand can go a long way since about 94% of job seekers are looking for companies that have a good reputation within the industry. So, if you want to improve your chances of sourcing top talent, you can start by boosting your employer brand on social media networks like Facebook or LinkedIn. Share your brand’s story and accomplishments on official accounts to show potential applicants what you can offer. 2. Tap into the workforce’s network One of the quickest ways to build your talent pipeline is to tap into employee and/or employer networks. This is an efficient strategy since the workforce already has a grasp of what you’re looking for in an applicant and what you can offer as a company. Such a method is especially effective now that many professionals regularly engage in remote networking,according to LHH’s post on 5 tips for remote working. Thus, you can ask people in the workforce to write up a list of potential candidates that would fit in your company. Afterward, you can contact these candidates through e-mail or even through professional networking platforms like LinkedIn. Through this strategy, you can easily find trusted and qualified talents for any company role. 3. Look through the recruitment database You can also source potential candidates by looking into your company’s existing recruitment database. Companies should maintain a database of candidates who have applied in the past. Since their information is already available to the company, you can re-evaluate their resume and examine if they're a fit for the current job positions you can offer. These candidates are more likely to engage with your company since they have already expressed their interest in working with your business in the past. And when the time comes that you need to hire new talent, you can easily reach out to these individuals in your talent pipeline. 4. Utilize online and offline sourcing methods Aside from leveraging your company networks and the recruitment database, you can also source strong candidates by utilizing both online and offline sourcing strategies.CNBC states that around 55% of recruitersare sourcing potential hires through phone calls while others are using AI job outreach programs. AI-driven solutions speed up the sourcing processes by scanning candidate resumes and conducting interviews. Meanwhile, offline sourcing methods, like career events and conferences, foster trust and increase engagement among potential candidates. As such, you need to use online and offline strategies to source the best candidates for your company. 5. Send an engaging outreach message Once you’ve found promising candidates for your company, you need to engage them properly by sending a compelling outreach message. Whether you’re contacting these professionals through a social media network or phone call, you need to create a candidate-focused message. This is so they will be more likely to engage with your company. For instance,our article on ‘8 Employee Engagement Statistics You Need to Know in 2021’stated that 33% of employees jump ship because they want to find new challenges. Consequently, you need to emphasize your company’s learning and career opportunities so that candidates will be interested in your offer.Candidate sourcing increases your chances of finding qualified people for your team. To attract the best talent, you must establish your brand, tap into your workforce's network, look into your recruitment database, utilize online/offline methods, and engage potential applicants. By making use of these techniques, you're sure to build an impressive talent pipeline that you can tap into should the company require new hires. Wrapping Up Contrary to popular belief, onboarding employees doesn’t end after the applicants are hired and upskilled for their tasks. In many cases, effective onboarding may include a cluster of processes, such as re-skilling and cross-skilling. This is to make them more suitable for the job, regardless of whether it’s remote work or an on-site job. And even if you have remote employee options, you can also onboard remotely with the help of modern tech tools. Just make sure the process is in line with employee recognition and engagement through incentivization and similar programs, which are crucial in employee retention. Suppose you’re tasked to simplify the onboarding process for forklift employees in Toronto, you could use the tips and insights you’ve gained from this article. Although you may only select the ones appropriate to your needs and situations. About Author: This article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!

The hiring manager is one of the most influential people for the new hires during the first workdays. The manager’s primary role is to help the employee adapt to the new position and ensure that he/she understands the responsibilities and company’s values. It is possible to compare the hiring manager with the paper writer expert. Both of them provide necessary recommendations, help overcome challenges, and share all vital information to finish the tasks. Here, we will talk about the best practices for the hiring manager to ensure the successful onboarding of the new workers. 1. Start with Preboarding Starting with pre-boarding is the best strategy to make the whole process comfortable for the new hires. No doubt that the employees suffer from anxiety after they sign a job offer. Thus, the first day at a new company is very stressful. So, the main aim of the hiring manager is to help the new hire overcome this challenge. Here are the main steps for the pre-boarding: Send a welcome kit and introducing email to tell about what to expect on the first day; Make sure that the new employee finished all the admin tasks; Host informal team session to introduce the new hire to the team; Prepare the onboarding checklist. 2. Prepare the Plan for Onboarding One more good idea is to prepare the plan for the whole onboarding. You should list all necessary tasks to complete during this period. Think about what information is crucial to be shared during the first days. A good plan should be well-structured and diverse. The next step is to split the list of tasks into several periods. Then, you need to set a deadline and plan a meeting after each period. This way, the onboarding will be effective to its full extent. 3. Introduce Company’s Values The company’s culture and values are among the top interview questions asked by job seekers. And it is not surprising at all, as the values are a crucial part of the working process. So, the hiring manager's goal is to introduce and demonstrate the company's culture as soon as possible. You can prepare presentations or send an email/a short guide with main values. However, only reading about it won’t be effective. Additionally, you can engage the team members in this process. Other workers can share the stories from the company’s experience to demonstrate each of the values. 4. Involve the Team in Onboarding Process Social interaction is also an integral part of the onboarding process. The new hire should feel the part of the company from the first days on the position. That’s why the hiring manager should inform other workers about the new worker and encourage them to welcome him/her. One more nice idea is to arrange a welcome meeting where every team member will introduce himself/herself and talk about main responsibilities. This way, the employee will get a more clear vision of the team and main work processes. 5. Assign a Teammate to Help the New Hire The next step is to assign a teammate who will help the new hire to adapt to the company’s atmosphere. Sometimes, employees feel confused when asking for advice from the hiring managers or the team lead. Hence, someone from the teammates can provide a helping hand during the first days of work. And the new hire won’t hesitate to ask mundane but very important questions. 6. Let the New Hires Learn in the Workflow No doubt that it is easier to learn something new in the workflow. This way, the new employees will get the answers to crucial questions right when they need them. One of the best ways to ensure workflow learning is to prepare the course with specific information about the main job responsibilities. Creating a collaborative learning platform is also useful to provide the new hires access to all mandatory data during the onboarding process. Hence, the workers will combine the work process with necessary learning. 7. Do not Overload with New Information The hiring managers should remember that the excessive amount of new information during the first workdays is not a good idea at all. If you want to improve work efficiency and ensure that the worker adapts to all processes, divide the whole data into several blocks. Provide enough time for the employee to learn all the information and understand how to use new data in practice. Also, the new hire should have an opportunity to ask questions during the onboarding process concerning each process in the workflow. 8. Conduct Regular Check-Ins Conducting regular check-ins will ensure that the new hire learns all necessary information. Also, it is a nice opportunity to discuss the progress, find out possible challenges, and prepare the strategy on how to solve all issues. One more benefit of regular check-ins is the ability to analyze the worker’s performance. So, make sure that you set up the deadline for each training period and arrange a meeting at the end of the timeline. 9. Collect and Analyze the Feedback Collecting and analyzing feedback from new hires is necessary to understand how the employees are engaged in the process. Furthermore, it helps to clarify whether the new worker understands his/her role and the company’s policies. While communicating with the new employee, ask whether he/she is satisfied with the communication with the manager and other team members. Finally, ask for possible suggestions on how to improve the onboarding process. 10. Celebrate First Year Anniversary After the new hire finishes the onboarding and probation periods, it does not mean that you should forget about him/her. As the studies show, the onboarding process continues right till the first anniversary. So, it will be a good opportunity to celebrate and reflect on achievements. The hiring manager should discuss the main employee's achievements, set up new goals for future development, and ensure that the worker is satisfied and happy with his/her position Final Words Now you know all the secrets of effective employee onboarding. But we would like to add that the new hires are really vulnerable and need your help and support. So, remember that you are the main person who will guide him/her for quite a long period. Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!

The pandemic rapidly accelerated the rate at which companies transitioned to remote work. A trend that had been growing steadily in recent years was forced to become the norm across nearly every industry. And, while there are certainly some things to like about remote work, it does come with some notable complications. One of those complications is the difficulty of maintaining strong relationships between co-workers. Without physically seeing each other each day, co-workers can drift apart, and those relationships may be lost. At Service Direct, we didn’t want to see that happen to our teams. Not only are strong relationships good for business, but they are also a positive influence on overall well-being. As the pandemic has drug on, we have explored various initiatives to promote employee engagement and connection. One of the most successful of those ventures has been our virtual book club. Making more time for reading is always a good thing and reading the same book as others opens the opportunity for rewarding, enriching discussions. If you would like to create a book club in your organization, consider the following tips that we have picked up through our experiences. 1. You Need a Leader An enthusiastic leader for the book club is an essential piece of the puzzle. This is not a job that should be forced onto anyone in the organization – it should be a volunteer position for someone who loves to read and wants to share that love with others. It’s important to have a leader for this project because you’ll need a point of contact for communication, someone to make book selections, and more. You might choose to stick with one leader for the long run of this club, or you may rotate leadership duties if you have multiple people who are interested. 2. Sort Out Logistics in Advance A virtual book club can be quite simple, but there are some important logistics that should be worked out from the start to avoid confusion or frustration. Some of those logistical points include the following – How will books be selected? This is an important one since the books selected impact participation. Our approach is to have the leader of the group create a shortlist of a few titles, and the members of the club can then vote on the one they want to read. The book that gets the most votes will be the first one that the group tackles. This democratic approach takes away the pressure of making the final selection from falling on the leader alone. Are financial resources available? As a business, you might decide to provide some financing for this club, so books can be purchased at no expense to the club members. Of course, you can run a book club without taking that step but make it clear upfront that readers will be responsible for buying their own books. When will the club meet? There are two basic formats for book clubs – you can hold meetings at intervals while reading the book, or one meeting at the end when everyone is finished. We chose the latter of those two options, but either one can work nicely. Just make sure your club meets on a regular cadence to keep everyone on track. 3.Keep It Fun! The whole point of a book club is to have fun reading new books and chatting about them with others. It shouldn’t feel like homework! Make it clear to encourage employees that they are welcome to join whenever they would like, and they can also stop reading if they aren’t enjoying the book or just don’t have time. People in your organization already have enough on their plates, so you don’t want to accidentally add something that feels more like an obligation than a hobby. Make sure the emphasis is on fun and enjoyment right from the start. 4. Don’t Fall into a Pattern It would be easy enough to fall into a pattern of reading the same kinds of books over and over again. This mistake could lead to your book club having a relatively short shelf life before people get tired of the material. Make it a point to read different kinds of books, and always ask for suggestions from club members to see what they are interested in reading. Opening the club to new perspectives and types of literature can go a long way toward improving the experience for everyone. 5. Maintain a Respectful, Welcoming Environment Our last point is perhaps the most important for creating a successful book club within your organization. It’s essential that all are welcome in the club, and that differing opinions are not met with resistance or arguments. Some books will include materials that could spark passionate discussions on various topics. Whether those discussions are political, religious, or on any other topic where strong emotions are involved, make sure the club stays civil and respectful. There are plenty of different ways to get started with a virtual book club, but we hope the tips listed above help you get started in the right direction. When executed correctly, this initiative can encourage your employees to read more and stay connected at the same time. Good luck and have fun reading! Author Bio: Matt Buchanan is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Service Direct, a technology company that offers local lead generation solutions for service businesses. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University. He has 15+ years of expertise in local lead generation, sales, search engine marketing, and building and executing growth strategies.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that hiring and retaining top talent is one of the most crucial goals of any business. After all, a company is only as good as its people. However, with digital advancement and increased competition locally and internationally, this can become increasingly harder to stand out as an employer. To help you with this, in this article, we are looking at what a recruitment strategy is and ten recruitment strategies to make your hiring process a success. What Is A Recruitment Strategy, And Why Do You Need It? The fundamental definition of a recruitment strategy is the plan that explains what role you are hiring for, how much time you have, what tools you are going to use, and the requirements for successful candidates. In today's world,artificial intelligence is changing the recruitment process, and it's essential to recognize that a "one size fits all" approach to recruitment strategies is no longer effective. Depending on factors like your company's goals and the timeframe for recruitment, the optimal strategy may differ from case to case. To stay ahead in this dynamic landscape, it's crucial to cultivate innovative ideas that leverage AI and streamline the recruitment process. These ideas should align with your company's overall goals, be practical to implement, and be easy to communicate to all stakeholders. If carefully planned and implemented, recruiting strategies will help you position yourself in the job market as a reliable employer, helping you attract the people you are looking for. 1. Begin with the basics Before we jump right into hiring, there are several basics that you need to consider to make sure your hiring strategy is a success. Here are they: Know your ideal candidate - First things first, for each position you hire, you need to know the perfect candidate: educational background, experience, and what they'll be working on. Not having a clear idea of who you are looking for will result in wasted time, and you may end up with someone who is not the right fit. Consider your recruiting metrics and adjust your goals - Your recruitment metrics can give you an idea of your pain points. After understanding this, you can change your strategy accordingly to improvesales workflow and achieving better results. Invest in recruitment tools - In case you are not yet using recruitment tools, consider adding them to your HR toolbox. They can help you speed up the hiring process and save on some additional costs. From CV-review software to video interviewing tools based on your needs, there are many options to choose from. Be where your candidates are – No matter if you plan to hire remotely or you need on-site staff, to find the best talent out there, you need to post your job ads where they will get the most exposure. For example, EuroOptic used Lensa to look for candidates for different positions in different locations. Online platforms are often the best places to reach more qualified people, no matter your industry. These are not the only steps you need to take before starting your hiring process, but they are some of the most crucial ones that you shouldn't ignore. One of them is expenses, you should consider such things ashow much it costs to hire a developer. 2. Invest in employee branding When trying to attract talent, having a strong employer brand is crucial for recruiting strategy. More and more companies realize this, putting time, effort, and resources into positioning themselves as great employers. Some key benefits of employee branding are: Attracting top talent - People want to work for companies that have a good reputation. And the highly qualified also have the opportunity to do so. Being known as a company with great job security, flexibility, and professional development opportunities will help you secure top people in the field. Reduced cost and time per hire - Having a strong employer brand makes you an attractive choice for many qualified potential applicants in shorter time frames, as well as reducing the budget you need to spend on paid ads and job postings. Retaining of existing employees - Strong employer brand allows you to attract top talent and results in lower employee turnover. In addition, your brand helps you create a bond with your potential employees even before starting the hiring process when they consider applying. Later, this connection results in higher levels of employee engagement and dedication towards the company. Employee branding and online reputation management for recruiters are becoming increasingly important, so make sure not to miss this step. 3. Optimize the career page on your website Many companies out there make the mistake of ignoring the career page on their website, as they assume the website is only for Your career page represents your company to the potential applicant. That's why it should be appropriately set up. Apart from including detailed information on each position, talk about your company values, beliefs, working style, and vital statistics that you feel the applicants should know. Your company page gives you a chance to "promote" yourself as a workplace and show the applicants why they want to join you. This can be done by incorporating team photos, company videos, and employee testimonials. Elevate your photo quality with AI and video quality before you upload any media to your site, as this will improve your SEO and ranking on search engines.Moreover, make sure to incorporate proper user experience design, use automated WordPress hosting for more security and speed, and share interesting content to engage more candidates. Try to expose your career page on as many platforms as you can, both online and offline. For example, if you are participating in local job fairs, or going to professional events, make sure to include the link to your career page on your company business cards and flyers so that attendees later have the chance to visit it. Include in your career page website chatbots which will be a very welcoming gesture to the applicants who want to apply for your vacancies. Chatbots can be responsible for answering the primary questions and satisfying the needs of applicants, for example, if there are any issues while filling the application form. 4. Use social media Social media has revolutionized our lives. It is no longer only a way to connect with our loved ones, but one of the key ways to find products, learn news, and whatnot. It also changed not only the way companies work but also the way they hire. As hiring switches increasingly to digital, social media is becoming a valuable source for recruiters to look for new talent. Here's a number: 40 million people each week search for jobs on LinkedIn. And if your company doesn't use this tool to headhunt and hire employers, you may be missing out. There are many ways you can use social platforms for recruiting. The primary one is, of course, directly posting the job announcements. For example, LinkedIn and Facebook currently have separate "Jobs" sections to announce, and potential candidates can apply now. Another way is to create a post about the position or even use paid ads to promote it. Additionally, you can also use social media marketing as part of your employer branding strategy by making posts about the company culture, sharing photos and videos from the events, introducing your team to make a positive attitude towards your company among professionals. Introducing the company to the audience is one of the biggest social media trends. It will help you kill two birds with one stone: reach potential applicants, and improve the company's marketing efforts. You can also seek the support of influencers who became very trendy in recent years in social media. They might use their influence on their audience to promote your company, which will arouse interest to apply for jobs. By the way, you can find influencers by scraping Google or using any other tools made especially for that process. 5. Incorporate referral programs Referral programs are becoming another recruiting norm that businesses around the world started to approve. This is how it works: employers encourage current employees to refer qualified candidates for some type of reward, often financial. In essence, referral programs give recruiters access to the professional connections of the team, turning each member of the team into a recruiter. In addition to traditional referral programs, companies are also exploring innovative ways to implement a referral program for B2B connections, extending the reach of their recruitment efforts. By the way, you can also involve business mentors in those programs, so it will become more practical and useful for future employees. This strategy has several benefits. The key one is that referred employees usually perform better and stay in the company longer. Other benefits are the reduced hiring costs, as the financial benefit given to the employee is often less expensive than the recruitment marketing budget you'd need to allocate. Additionally, the hiring process happens quicker because someone is acquainted with the referred candidate's working style and qualifications. Finally, well-designed and managed referral programs can also improve employee satisfaction, showing them that their opinion is valued. 6. Have company culture and benefits videos Company culture videos or even videos about the benefits you have for the employees are a great way to attract potential team members and give them a feel for what's in it. A well-thought-out and crafted clever and funny video can work wonders in attracting candidates and wanting them to learn more about what you have to offer them both as a brand and as an employer. Additionally, using text to video tools can enhance these videos, making them even more engaging and informative. Another great thing about videos is that they no longer require significant investment to create. There are various tools available that allow you to make videos online without having to hire a crew. You can then use the video across platforms online and even as TV ads. 7. Explore niche job boards Niche job boards are becoming increasingly popular among recruiters. The main reason for this is that they allow them to cut through the clutter and directly reach the talent for the position you are looking to hire. You can think of niche job boards as tools for market segmentation of employees. While these platforms don't receive the amount of traffic hiring giants like Indeed, they are targeted by experienced industry professionals and are great for hiring very niche technical talent. They are also more accessible price-wise. However, it's essential to know that because niche job boards don't receive massive traffic, you need to be very specific about promoting your position there. Therefore, your job description needs to be very specific and carefully tailored, so the people visiting those boards know precisely what the role will include. Adding a QR Code to these Job Boards will help you give further job role information and ease of applying. Using a QR Code generator can easily make dynamic and secure job recruitment. With niche job boards, you're likely to put more effort than with regular job posting platforms, and you'll reach fewer people, but they'll be the right people. Best alternative to Indeed ZipRecruiter is a better alternative to popular job sites such as Indeed to help you source quality candidates that exactly match your job profile. It doesn’t source jobs from multiple job sites and present them to you—instead, it posts your job details on multiple job portals (read 100s of job sites like Indeed) simultaneously. You might be wondering—is ZipRecruiter better than Indeed, then? The answer depends on your goals, requirements, and the industry you’re targeting to source candidates for. Say you’re a company with a decent hiring budget looking to get better visibility on job sites and attract just the right candidates for the role, ZipRecruiter is all you need. On the other hand, if you’re a small or medium business owner with a limited hiring budget, investing in ZipRecruiter might not be the best option for you. With ZipRecruiter, you might need to keep a job posting up for long stretches of time to find the perfect fit. 8. Do reference checks The reference check is the process during which the recruiter checks and confirms the information in the applicant's CV to make sure if it's true. Additionally, they also contact the references to ask for feedback about the applicant. This helps recruiters verify the applicant's skills to make sure that they are the right fit for the position. During reference checks, it's common for recruiters to assess the applicant on the critical skills essential for the role and soft skills like punctuality, communication, and overall attitude. For example, if you want to hire a graphic designer, the CV of the candidate should at least contain professional skills like making a logo, creating illustrations, photo-editing, etc. Check carefully every sentence contained in the CV to find the specialist that fits the hiring position. As a rule, the reference check is the last step of the recruitment process when the hiring manager makes the final clarifications before completing the job offer. 9. Contact passive candidates Promoting your job offers and then choosing candidates from the applicant pool is great, but it's not a guaranteed way to find the right person. Sometimes, notwithstanding the number of people who've applied, you cannot find the person who is the right fit. Here's when the passive applicant pool can come to help. But who is a passive applicant? The person who is not actively looking for employment or may even be employed seems to be a good fit for the position. LinkedIn is one way to reach those candidates, but there are also many other platforms such as SeekTalent that you can use. When reaching out to them, make sure to craft a personalized message telling them about your company and why you think they would be a perfect fit for the available position. Try to keep the conversation engaging and offer to organize a minor call or even a meeting to discuss possible cooperation. 10. Improve the interview process It's hard to overestimate the importance of the interview process. Be it online or offline, and the interview is the first time your company representative will meet with the applicant face to face as part of the hiring process. For a successful and effective interview process, there are several vital points that you need to consider. Click here for more information. Don't put the interview off for too long - If there is a long time frame between the application and the interview, the applicant may be put off, or they may find something else. Take your time to screen all the applicants and carefully assess them, but make sure it doesn't take months before you call the candidate for an interview. If they don’t pass the screening section, send them an email notifying them. You may have hundreds of applicants, which may seem time-consuming, but using different SaaS email templates and setting up an automated email will simplify the task significantly. Overall, using email marketing in the hiring process is a good decision, as it will keep the official part and make it easier to keep communication with the potential employees. Try to be innovative - Video interviews are becoming increasingly popular. While they may not fully allow the parties to feel for each other, they offer convenience and cut the time needed for the interview. Don't stick only to in-person interviews but try to provide options that may benefit you and the potential hire. Share the hiring process with the applicant - As we've discussed earlier in the article, you need to have your hiring strategy planned out in the beginning. If you've done it, you probably know all the steps both you and the applicant need to follow. For example, if there is a task and an interview with the team lead, share it with the applicant upfront to know what to expect. Discuss finances - If the pay range wasn't part of the announcement, you'd probably need to discuss it during the interview. Ask the applicant about the pay range they feel comfortable with and then discuss your company's amount in mind. This will save a lot of time down the road and help avoid any misunderstanding later. Try to communicate all the concerns you and the applicant have in a friendly and accessible manner, ask them questions, and clarify if they have any. Then, after the interview, make sure to reach out to them with the decision as soon as possible, be it positive or negative. Conclusion Having a well-developed recruitment strategy is not just a need but a must for any company for long-term success. The process and tactics discussed in this article are some of the safest bets for recruiting the best candidates. Take your time to experiment with different tools and strategies to see what works best for your company and brings the best results. Good luck! Try WorkmatesInteractive Demo Click through it yourself withinteractive demo. Try It Now Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!

The workforce of the 21st century not only needs good pay and benefits but also appreciation from the management and peers to boost their engagement and productivity. While most companies already have some kind of incentive program to motivate their employees, many are just starting to implement rewards and recognition programs that their employees appreciate. The success of such programs relies on having a robust strategy that is backed up by a steady budget. Before you go ahead with working out your employee rewards and recognition budget, it is essential to consider variables such as the overall goals, recognition methods that the employees appreciate, and the existing budget allocated. With all that said, here is how you arrive at a rewards and recognition budget: Start from existing employee recognition budget Even companies that have no formal recognition programs have some budget allocated for rewards and recognition from employee benefits. The issue with not having a strategy is that companies might end up spending more than necessary, or in some cases, less. The rewards can be in the form of employee celebration activities, lunches, or thank you cards. The initiatives in such instances have little accountability and no tracking of the budget, making the whole process inefficient. So how much should you spend on employee recognition realistically? One recent work survey by SHRM found that the number should be greater than 1% of the payroll. The HR professionals in the survey reported that the recognition programs were “excellent” when the budget was at least 1% or more of the payroll. Depending on the profitability some organizations might spend higher and even go up to 10% of the payroll. What is essential to understand is that rewards and recognition programs are a cost-effective way to boost employee morale and productivity and save on the losses incurred from disengagement and attrition. An added benefit is that companies can also promote themselves through job advertisements and social media that they are a desirable employer. Introduction to Conflict in the Workplace(and How it Erodes Productivity Culture) Download the Ebook Now Consider the impact of your rewards and recognition program If you are setting up a rewards and recognition program, it is done with the goal of making a significant impact on the employees. Consider the stats: a study by AttaCoin revealed that 88% of the respondents agreed that companies should reward employees effectively but only 41% believed that their employers did so. Going further, an effective rewards program made 90% of the respondents feel that their work made a difference. Also note that employee productivity will grow to 1.7% annually. Effective rewards and recognition program has to be frequent, timely, specific, visible, and value-based to motivate employees to become highly engaged. And there are benefits to it; companies with employees who are highly engaged are 21% more profitable. In the same survey, it was found that 69% of employees are willing to work harder if they were better appreciated by their employers. This shows the power of recognition as it is human nature to be perceived as valued by our fellow peers. While monetary incentives are strong motivators, recognition needs to be varied and performed at different levels as was found in a recent employee engagement report. When it came to highly engaged employees, 84% of them had received recognition for going the extra mile. Improving employee experience doesn'tneed to be difficult - or expensive! Learn how Type of Rewards and Recognition Program Whether you have allocated based on a percentage of the payroll or set a flat amount, the recognition budget per employee can be split into any of these popular recognition programs: Spot awards Spot awards are popular with the new generation of the workforce as it is based on immediate recognition. The employees are awarded on the spot for a task well-done or a specific project. Spot awards are a wonderful choice when it comes to frequent and ongoing recognition. They help to recognize and reinforce behaviors and efforts that are valued by the company. Performance recognition Performance recognition relies on the output of employees and they are a great way to boost engagement in teams. The recognition rewards motivate employees to reach targets be it in sales or in other programs such as safety or wellness initiatives. Performance recognition also relies heavily on reinforcing expected behaviors through rewards. Social recognition Social recognition appeals to our need to be appreciated and rewarded by the group. It can also be used as a way to reinforce organizational culture. Platforms for social recognition allow all the initiatives to be visible in one place and employees earn points that can be redeemed in the form of gifts or merchandise. This form of recognition has gained more popularity since the work-from-home culture became the norm. Service awards program This is the traditional model of appreciation that has been around for decades. With a service awards program, employees are recognized for their long service to the organization. It is known to improve employee retention as studies show that a milestones program makes employees in the US stay for an average of two more years. To learn even more about managing remote teams and keeping employees working at home highly engaged, download our ebook now. Download now Other recognition ideas on a budget To diversify your rewards and recognition program, you can also try: Perks and Benefits: Non-monetary benefits seem to have even more impact on employees than cash prizes. Offering gift cards or coupons for their favorite brand adds a personal touch to the rewards program. Benefits on specific brands, restaurants, eCommerce multi vendor marketplaces, fitness centers, and digital rewards are good places to start. Anniversary/Festival Incentives: Gifts for anniversaries is how the company can demonstrate their appreciation for the employee’s tenure. Gifts on festive occasions such as birthdays, festivals, and the birth of children also add a thoughtful, personal touch. Social media appreciation: Apart from the recognition you give the employee on the company’s internal platform, recognition on popular social media platforms can go a long way in boosting the employee’s morale. Recognition of achievement on a social media platform where friends and family of the employee can view the appreciation is a great self-esteem booster. Peer-to-peer recognition: Having their peers appreciate them for a job well-done is sometimes more effective than having the higher management do the same. Peer-to-peer recognition is known to boost employee engagement. “Our staff has praised the increased communications level Workmates delivers. We use it to communicate important project matters and give staff specific ‘kudos’ or even recognize their birthdays. More importantly, we use Workmates to clarify important project details that needed rapid dissemination among the entire team.” Christopher Baggott Chief Executive Officerator of Medlinks Cost Containment, Inc. and Medlinks Staffing, LLC. Learn More Important Considerations for employee rewards and recognition budget Streamline rewards and recognition on one platform Whether the organization has a few dozen employees or a few thousand, having a single platform to manage rewards and recognition programs is easier when it is digitized. Technology platforms help manage the programs effectively and save money over traditional ways of management. The platform helps everybody stay on the same page and gives a holistic view of the rewards and recognition program to the respective departments. Tailor the approach for high impact Depending on the specific goals of your department or the organization, tailor the program to fit what you want to prioritize. Since the costs can vary significantly with the type of program chosen, you need to scale the rewards and recognition efforts to match the goals. So how do you reward employees on a budget without going overboard? Use a peer-to-peer program to suit the budget instead of a festival incentive or milestone-based award. Peer-to-peer programs are highly rewarding while being low-cost per transaction. Watch out for unforeseen costs What catches the HR departments by surprise are the hidden fees associated with some platforms in the forms of technology fees, set up charges, and shipping and handling charges. When planning employee recognition ideas on a budget, it becomes even more important to be precise about the costs involved. Keep Taxes in mind To avoid a nasty surprise in the form of additional penalties slapped on your program, start your budgeting keeping taxation in mind. Cash awards and other prizes can be considered as taxable income under the law while some reward programs are exempted from it. So ensure that your tax advisor is kept in the loop from the beginning of the budgeting process. This is also the time when having a single platform to manage rewards and recognition saves tremendous amounts of time and effort by keeping the information in one place. Spread out the employee recognition budget on different programs When you set up your rewards and recognition program on a single platform, it becomes easier to show appreciation in many different forms ranging from social media shout-outs to highlighting accomplishments during important meetings and offering gift cards. The variation adds more meaning to the recognition and rewards employees in a manner that they are most satisfied with. Therefore spread out the budget into several programs other than the norm such as health and wellness, upskilling programs, employee referrals, and more. Conclusion Rewards and recognition are an integral part of the strategy to boost the morale of the modern-day workforce and make them more engaged, productive, and satisfied with their job. So how much do you budget on employee rewards and recognition such that it gives the most bang for the buck? The simplest answer is greater than 1% of the payroll. However, there are advantages to pushing it higher in organizations where recognition is at the core of the talent strategy. Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!

Employees spend ample time of their day working for your company. So, it is very important that they get recognized for all the hard work they do. In a traditional office setting, it is fairly easy to communicate appreciation for a completed task. However, with the current remote work scenario, it has become tougher for managers to show appreciation. And there is a higher chance of employee satisfaction drop because of the lack of recognition. According to a study, an employee who has gotten recognition is 63% more likely to stay with you for long periods of time. Whereas another study says that productivity increases by 31% when employees are happy and well-engaged. All these study results only make it more obvious that we need to focus more on making the employees happy. We should also mention that implementation of Recognition and Reward programs has in itself has become a tedious process. This blog will detail all the things that you need to know about setting up an efficient Recognition and Rewards system for your remote workers. Steps to Implement a Recognition and Rewards Program Step #1: Assessment During this phase, you should take a look at the existing RR program. For understanding the current program, reviews from your employees will be helpful. This is where the actual assessment starts. You will be running focus groups that aim to assess the effectiveness of the current RR program. The focus groups you organize must enable your employees to voice their opinions. And hence, it is always better to have separate focus groups for the management level employees and others. Get to know what your employees feel about your current reward system and how you can improve them. The next step in assessing your current RR is by conducting employee satisfaction surveys. These surveys must focus solely on asking questions about the appreciation they get in the remote workspace and how it affects their attitude. The final step in the assessment phase is writing a report on what changes you need to implement on the system. Furthermore, the report should also elaborate on the level of employees who would be directly impacted by the change in the system. For example, if you have remote employees working at different managerial levels, you should address level-specific issues in your report. Step #2: Design Ascertain which characteristics of employees will earn rewards and those that won’t. Your aim during this step is to design a model that offers benefits for the employees at the right time. Because, when it comes to remote work, late recognition is close to no recognition at all. In this step, you will also be concentrating on coming up with the types of rewards that you can give to your employees. For example, it may be incentives, or something as simple as gift cards. Step #3: Execution Now that you have completed designing the new Recognition and Rewards System, you must implement it in your organization. You can execute the program for your remote team by addressing the following factors: Eligibility Remember the eligibility criteria you set during the design process? Put that into action by setting up an employee rewards software solution. For a remote team, there’s a high chance of forgetting your back-end employees. Eligibility criteria will let you be more inclusive and make sure that a spectrum of employees gets rewarded through your newer system. Support from top management During the execution process, make sure that all the leaders approve of such a large-scale operation. Let them get involved and show their support for the program. For example, if you decide to recognize an employee’s talents through social media, a simple comment from the top management can make the employee’s day. And thus, improve their engagement. Measurement Ensure that before you reward an employee, they have met the criteria for completing a task. Remote working conditions can sometimes make it tough to effectively measure milestones. So, it is necessary that you implement a proper system that lets you gather all the required data. You can also use this data to determine the progress of a project. Training Training your employees to get accustomed to the new program is vital for its success. Employees should not feel forced to achieve the newly set goals for rewards. Instead, you should train to easily understand the benefits of the new Recognition and Rewards system. Communication is the only tool that will help make this process easier for you and your employees. Furthermore, assure them that the remote working condition will not in any way affect the rewarding system of the organization. That is how you get your employees to work with proper motivation. Step #4: Evaluation Like any other managerial process, this one also has an evaluation phase. This is a step overlooked by many failed reward program managers. The needs of employees constantly change, and so should the rewards. For instance, instead of just appreciating an employee on a Zoom call, post an appreciation post on your social media platforms. It will help them boast about their achievement among a bigger and more personal audience. You can start your evaluation by preparing a before and after document. Various Ways In Which You Can Encourage Remote Workers In this section of the blog, we will discuss the various ways in which you can show your appreciation for remote workers. If you give both onsite and remote workers, try to create a Recognition and Rewards system that prioritizes remote workers. There are many hurdles when it comes to implementing this for remote workers. But, everything is surmountable. Let us give you a few ideas for engaging your remote team. Provide technology allowance Technology plays an important part in making remote work possible. So, consider awarding your remote employees with an allowance to purchase better equipment. Offer workspace upgrades Assume that you got valuable new clients through the hard work of a single sales employee. Get them new upgrades for their home workspace. Buy them a comfortable chair as a symbol of appreciation. Let the other remote employees know about such benefits. Post this on social media to motivate others. Provide health insurance In these trying times, it is vital to take care of your employees’ health. Why not offer them healthcare benefits. There are many other things apart from health insurance that can interest your employees. For example, a gym membership, or a simple health drinks package. Provide access to further learning opportunities If you believe that an employee will be of more use after a certain academic program, why not enroll them in it. Fund them for research, course, or a training module that will help them progress in their field as well as in the organization. Offer them break time When a team of remote workers has completed a certain task successfully, give them a break from work. It may not be entirely productive at the moment. However, it will have a positive impact on the employees’ attitude towards your organization. Which eventually improves your employee retention rates. Conclusion Technology has made Recognition and Rewards systems easier to implement. Cloud solutions offer customizable options that let you have more control over your rewards program. It will help you provide timely rewards and recognition for your remote employees. Pro-tip: Communicate with your employees to arrive at the best decisions. More connection equals the success of the program. About Author: Hetvi works as a Product Associate at Refrens.com - Online Invoice Generator India's most powerful platform for freelancer's growth. She has worked for some renowned companies as a Brand and Digital marketing associate. You can follow Refrens.com on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

A typical remote interview is conducted almost entirely over the phone, the typical interviewee will often get the opportunity to answer questions either over the phone or on Skype or as a voice-over the telephone. To learn even more about managing remote teams and keeping employees working at home highly engaged, download our ebook now. Download now What is an Effective Remote Job Interview? Over the phone is significantly more popular than Skype, but is also more interviewers' preference for their work. This is because over the phone is more personal and interviewers can hear what the interviewee sounds like. Telephone interviews are conducted very differently than in-person interviews, so it's important to know some of the typical things to avoid so you can get the best. For many, a remote job interview is a chance to get a foot in the door for a company that may not have a local presence. This can be a great opportunity for people who live in a rural area, have a disability that limits them from being physically present for an interview, or don't have a car. Remote job interviews are less common than in-person interviews, but they are becoming more popular. In order to get the most out of your interview, it's important to have specific tips on what you should do before, during, and after the interview. Before the Interview: Unplug from your current work environment and make sure your Internet connection is strong, learn about the company's mission and any notable projects. Complete your research on the company, including employee reviews. How to prepare for your Effective Remote Job Interview The keys to preparing for an interview are to review your resume, think about your strengths, do your research on the company, and get clear on the questions you want to ask. It is possible that you may one day have a remote job interview. Maybe you're a military spouse. Maybe you're a recent college graduate who just moved to a new city for a new job. Maybe you're a family caregiver who has been searching for a new job but has been unsuccessful in your search because the job requires a lot of travel that you can't do for family reasons. In any of these cases, you may be interviewing for a job that you will have to do remotely. 1. One way to ensure that your tone of voice is appropriate is to practice modulating your voice volume. One way to do this is to take a deep breath and then speak, rather than speaking right away. 2. Start by following best practices Before you ever arrive at an interview, make sure to honor the following best practices: Research the company, including their mission, values, and history Put together a portfolio of your skills and accomplishments Pick a professional outfit Pick a professional hairstyle Pick a professional makeup look Pick a professional outfit for your interview. 3. Set up your interview gear. Arriving at the company with good energy is key. It makes a good first impression and leaves a better impression on those you are meeting, as well as those observing. Make sure your phone is fully charged. Bring a small notepad with you to take notes on questions that come up or bring a laptop to take notes on the spot. Often working in an interview is the same experience people have at work. You need to be productive in the time you are given. Bring any technology you need to accomplish this. Charge it the night before. 10 Tips to Have an Effective Remote Job Interview in 2021 To learn more about giving access to vital HR and work information — even when they're not in the office. Download our ebook now. Download now 1. Prepare to Answer Questions Since it can be very difficult to come up with a perfect answer to a difficult question, employers will often ask their potential employees to prepare for an interview by thinking of some questions they might be asked. Here are some potential questions and the best way to answer each one. Describe yourself. I am an accomplished individual with strong interpersonal skills. What are your strengths? I stay organized, am an excellent problem solver, and am capable of multitasking. What are your weaknesses? I can be impatient at times, but I also work hard to overcome that. How has this company made an impact on your life? 2. Find a Quiet Room Remote interviews are becoming more popular in the world of business, but many companies are struggling to make them happen. Small office spaces, high internet speeds, and modern technology are all making this type of meeting possible. But the one thing that remains the most difficult is finding a quiet meeting place. A recent study showed that 74% of employees surveyed agree that quiet meeting rooms, such as conference rooms and private offices, are the most important thing for a successful remote meeting. It's important to find a room where there isn't any noise, and the first question to ask is, "Is it quiet?" A common location to find a quiet room is a conference room. There you'll likely need to reserve the room for the interview, but you don't need a formal reservation. Networking with a remote person is a different experience from networking with a person from a secure company with central offices. Remote workers don’t have the same conveniences. 3. Be Ready to Answer Questions Many folks don't realize that there is a correlation between the position they hold and how they answer questions. It's important to understand the appropriate response and how you should give it. For instance, one may typically hold a degree depending on their particular position. This degree should be stated in the appropriate response. There are some questions that if answered, could reveal confidential information or personal opinions. 4. Use Headphones Tired of having a video conference in a noisy conference room? Consider using a conference call service in which both participants will have a conference call session in their own conference room. You’ll be able to have a much more effective and comfortable interview that way! 5. Avoid Distractions Distractions can be a problem during remote interviews. Maintain a professional tone and be mindful of the time of day. For example, it may be difficult to concentrate on your interview if you’re using your laptop and the TV is on in the background. 6. Tell the Truth One of the most important aspects of an effective remote interview is trust. Make sure you are being honest about your responsibilities so you can be confident that you are demonstrating that you are a hard worker who can put in the time. The interviewer will appreciate that you are not taking the job lightly and are willing to commit to it. 7. Be Wary of Camera Angles In order to be successful in a remote interview, you need to make sure that your image is clear and recognizable. To ensure that, adjust the camera angle so the interviewer has an unobstructed view of you. It's also important to prepare for technical problems before the interview. Make sure you have your laptop charged and with you for emergencies. You can't be sure how long the interview might go, so plan accordingly. If you need to cut the interview for any reason, just say something like "I'm sorry, I'm needed back at the office." 8. Avoid Giving Extensive Personal Info The interview process can be a nerve-racking experience for anyone. Getting the job is the ultimate goal, but there are many variables that can affect the outcome, such as how you present yourself during the interview. Those who are interviewing remotely should be mindful of the distances that separate them during the process. Wave your hand to see if they want to go to the next question. Do not be overly personal. It is important to stay professional and to avoid making assumptions about the other person. It is important for the interviewee to communicate well and to be prompt. This will provide the interviewer with all the required information they need to make an informed decision. 9. Use Google Docs for communication Modern technology has come a long way just recently. I've been using email for communication at work for years, but these days, many companies are moving towards more digital forms of communication. One tool that has really caught on in the past year or so is Google Apps - which is made up of Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, etc. The majority of my colleagues have switched to Gmail at my workplace. It's pretty easy to use and contains most of the features that you would expect from an email provider like filters, spam protection, and the like. What really sets Gmail apart is that it is integrated with other Google Apps that can be accessed through the browser. 10. Schedule the interview for a specific hour You should always specify a time for your interview. Keeping your appointment is important for both parties. Employers will appreciate your punctuality and you will be able to start on time, or at a time that best suits you. You can also give yourself enough time to arrive at your interview on time, as well as to prepare for questions they may ask. To be punctual, it is best to specify an absolute start time, as opposed to a specific date and time. It will allow both parties to be as prepared as possible as it can be difficult to plan your schedule around an absolute timeframe. Regardless of your time zone, it is important to remember that the interviewer is inviting you to their office and they have a certain comfort level in being in a separate office. Remote interviews are a challenge for everyone, but be sure to show up a little early to account for any delays. HR mistakes impact your entire organization. Learn how to avoid the 12 most common mistakes with our free ebook. Download now Author Bio: Kashyapi Prajapati has been involved in the world of accounting software, SEO and cloud computing from a very long time and currently, she is working as a lead content writer with Cloudwalks, a QuickBooks cloud hosting service which offers affordable QuickBooks hosting pricing. Cloud computing and SEO is what she eats and drinks.

One of the most cost-effective ways to improve the performance of your organization is simply to start recognizing –– and rewarding –– the great work of your employees. According to Quantum Workforce, when employees believe their efforts will be recognized, they are 2.7X more likely to feel highly engaged at work. That’s important because a meta-analysis from Gallup reveals that high employee engagement leads to: 41% lower absenteeism 17% higher productivity 24% less employee turnover in high-turnover organizations 59% less turnover in low-turnover organizations Whatever industry you’re in, rewarding your employees makes sense from a business perspective. But what should that look like? Get inspired with these five creative employee reward ideas. Creative Employee Reward Ideas to Boost Company Morale: 1. Offer Top-Performing Employees a Gift Obviously, people love gifts, so what better way to reward the amazing work of your employees or celebrate work anniversaries than buying them a present? However, not all presents are likely to yield the desired results, with more than eight in ten employees admitting they have received a corporate gift they didn’t want. It seems there are some definite no-nos when it comes to buying employee gifts. For instance, branded company swag –– T-shirts, pens, mouse mats, and the like –– might seem like an obvious gift, but it turns out almost three-quarters of workers prefer to receive gifts that don’t feature their company logo. What’s more, things like gift cards and coupons are a perennial favorite in the world of employee incentives. It’s easy to see why: they effectively shift the burden of choosing a gift from the leadership team to the individual team member. Yet in reality, they leave employees feeling cold, with three-quarters describing gift cards as less meaningful than “actual” gifts, and nearly nine-tenths admitting they ended up losing the gift card or forgetting it had a balance. Okay, so gift cards and company swag are out. But that doesn’t mean you need to delete gifts from your list of creative employee reward ideas. Instead, try the following: Buy them art: If you know the employee and their interior design preferences, buy them an art print to hang up at home. Give them some budget to redecorate their workspace: According to the University of Exeter's School of Psychology, giving employees control of their workspace layout makes them happier, healthier, and up to 32% more productive. Choose a gift that fits their routine: Personalization is an important element of effective employee gifting. If they love the gym, upgrade their membership or pay for some classes. Can’t live without coffee? Buy them a membership to a coffee club. Donate to a charity of their choice: We all have favored charities. Ask them to choose a good cause and make a donation in their name. 2. Applaud Their Performance In Words When it comes to creative employee reward ideas, you might assume that physical gifts are a far more effective incentive than mere words. Yet research suggests otherwise. As the previous section demonstrates, gifts can often have the opposite effect, leaving employees feeling like their efforts aren’t really appreciated. On the other hand, meaningful words that speak to their abilities and achievements can have a big impact. According to a survey of more than 100,000 employees published in the journal Strategic HR Review, verbal praise is the number one way that employees like to be shown appreciation in the workplace, cited by 47% of respondents. Importantly, “verbal praise” doesn’t have to mean speaking to the employee one-to-one. Per the study, it also includes: Written praise Recognition in front of fellow team members Speech in front of a large group Rather than a few words around the water cooler or in the canteen, try recognizing exceptional performance via a handwritten note –– something the employee can keep and look back on when they need a little extra motivation. You could even start a company newsletter that is sent to employees every week. This newsletter could include the names of employees that have exceeded expectations. This way you get to congratulate them in a way where everyone hears about it as well! Or, for maximum impact, consider applauding them in writing on social media. Don’t forget to tag them! For example, Attorney Brian White Associates recognizes their top-performing employees on social media to make sure they know that they are appreciated. Social media is a great way to interact with your employees- past, present, and future. Companies are realizing this and it is about time that yours does too. 3. Give Them More Control of Their Work-Life Balance No matter what industry your business lies within- even if you absolutely love your job and can’t wait to get into the office every morning, it’s still important to switch off when you get home. So it’s worrying that 60% of Americans have an unhealthy work-life balance. This doesn't just affect employees; it can damage their organizations too. Research from Prudential discovered that 25% of Americans plan to look for a new job after the pandemic, with work-life balance named as one of their top priorities. In short, if your employees don’t get enough downtime, there’s a good chance they’ll leave, so it makes sense to incorporate work-life balance in your employee reward ideas. There are lots of ways to do this. An obvious solution is through flexible working. If they’re a trusted employee, give them greater control over their working hours. Maybe they’d prefer to start and leave earlier, take a shorter lunch break, or do half-days on Fridays and make up the hours throughout the week. If it makes them feel appreciated, improves their work-life balance, and doesn’t affect the quality of their work, there’s literally no downside. But it doesn’t stop there. Work-life balance doesn’t necessarily mean spending less time in the office; it also means making the most of your home life (and doing less of the things you don’t enjoy). To that end, you could add house-cleaning services to your list of employee incentives. Pay for a cleaning service for a month and they don’t have to worry about doing the dishes or hanging up their laundry during their downtime. Or you could simply give them a parking spot –– or upgrade their existing space –– so they can park closer to the office and cut time from their commute. That means more time to unwind in the morning, so they come in feeling fresher and happier. 4. Enrol Them In a Subscription Box Subscription boxes –– that is, a type of delivery service that brings exciting new products straight to our door every week, month, or quarter –– have been one of the retail success stories of the past decade. Their popularity started to wane somewhat, only for the sector to receive a timely shot in the arm from the pandemic. Since 2020, the number of consumers with retail subscriptions has increased by an astonishing 99%, with one in five consumers now having access to at least one subscription, according to research from PYMNTS. Given that people love subscription boxes, it makes sense to include them in your mix of employee incentives. But how to do it? Firstly, it’s about getting the right box. From makeup and snacks to bath products and wine, there’s a practically limitless choice in the subscription box market. Ideally, you’d let the reward recipient choose their favorite subscription box (up to a certain monthly value). Alternatively, you can try negotiating discounts with subscription box providers in multiple categories, then offer employees a choice from your short list of “preferred providers”. Another element to consider here is the duration of your reward. Typically, when you “gift” an employee, your reward is a one-off purchase. With subscription boxes, that might not be the case; you could be paying for months. Get around this challenge by offering a maximum value of the subscription. For instance, you might award them a subscription of up to $100; it’s up to them whether that pays for a full year of cheaper service, or three months of a more expensive one. You could also offer employees the ability to further their knowledge in their sector. This could mean investing in their education by paying for a course, a certification, or an educational retreat. This really shows employees that you care about their careers and are willing to invest in them. For example, if your SEO consultant is doing great work, show them you noticed by offering them a paid for SEO certification that could help them grow. 5. Organize a Night Out for Them Their Work Friends Company cultures are built on the people we work with. If you employ a bunch of positive, generous, empathetic people with can-do attitudes, chances are your culture will have a distinctly feel-good edge. On the flip side, if your employees tend to be more “glass-half-empty”, it might not matter what employee reward ideas you come up with –– they still won’t feel satisfied and engaged. So it’s no surprise that our work relationships are one of the biggest factors in determining whether or not we’re happy at work, according to research from the Institute of Leadership Management. Lean into this by rewarding entire teams rather than individual employees. Has your sales team landed a big contract? Your account managers secured a huge upsell? Or did your front-line delivery team hit a key deadline or receive amazing feedback from a client? Pay for them to go out for dinner, buy them theater tickets, or put some money behind the bar at the local happy hour. That way, you’re not just making them feel valued as individuals; you’re bringing the whole team closer together and improving your workplace culture in the process. It’s a double win. Bringing it All Together Ultimately, there’s no such thing as the “right way” to do employee incentives. Rather, the creative employee reward ideas that work best for you will depend on the type of people you employ and the practicalities of your workplace. If you work in a laboratory with strict hygiene controls, it’s probably impractical to let an employee redecorate. And if you’re in a busy city center, a parking space might set you back thousands of dollars. Your best bet is simply to ask your employees how they’d like to be rewarded. Whether that means showering them with gifts, paying for experiences, or simply offering more meaningful verbal feedback, listen to them and make it happen. Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!

If you're a team leader, manager, or owner, can you think of the last time that you told your team they were doing a great job or that you appreciate them? If you have to think about the answer for a long time, that's not a great sign. All too often, employee appreciation is either grossly overlooked or attempted with too little sincerity. When this happens, employees don’t feel truly recognized and respected for their hard work. But it's never too late to change that. While celebrating Employee Appreciation Day is a good start, it’s actually far more important to show appreciation for your team members in some way every day. By investing time and energy into the self-esteem, confidence, and sense of value that your employees have day to day, everyone benefits from this healthy dynamic of mutual respect and gratitude. Better employee retention, higher performance, improved productivity, and increased employee engagement within the workplace are all-natural by-products of regularly showing how valued each person is. While gift cards, ice cream, and other tangible rewards are a great way of showing employees appreciation, below, you’ll find some simple but highly effective employee appreciation ideas that add value to your team members' daily lives and enhance your company culture. 1. Provide a Comfortable Working Environment Physical comfort is a basic need for any worker. But going a little bit above and beyond can demonstrate your desire to make their day as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Invest in ergonomic chairs, add some indoor plants, and make sure the office is always looking clean and inviting. Maintain great care of the spaces your employees occupy, as it shows continued effort on the company’s part to make their days as pleasant as possible. If employees work remotely, ensure that they have the tools they need to get the job done. Working from home is already fraught with additional challenges. Ensuring your employees have a comfortable set-up with the right tools and equipment can reduce stress and improve morale. 2. Regularly Ask for Employee Feedback Many times, management is clueless about how to really please employees. But there’s a simple solution: asking. Holding feedback sessions, creating a “suggestions” box, and sending out feedback surveys can help bosses stay in the loop about what kinds of rewards and expressions of gratitude are appreciated most. You can also use one of the SurveyMonkey alternatives, as long as your survey is simple and easy to fill by your employees. By making sure that employees from every level are provided with the space to speak up about new ideas or issues that concern them, you can hear directly from them how they’d like to be treated and what changes they might like to see in the future. It also provides an opportunity for managers to pick up on any bullying, harassment, mismanagement or otherwise that may be happening behind the scenes. 3. Celebrate Birthdays and Work Anniversaries Creating a birthday tradition in the workplace gives employees something extra to look forward to once a year. Plus, it provides everyone with a wonderful excuse to get away from their desks and enjoy a slice of cake! Keep a birthday calendar in a communal space to help employees get to know each other better and give everyone an annual opportunity to feel celebrated. You can do the same thing with work anniversaries or other life events. 4. Provide Mental Health Days Most organizations offer sick days and personal days, but few provide days off for mental health. These days are particularly beneficial to those suffering from anxiety, depression, or even high stress. However, they’re also good for when employees feel burned out or in need of a short break to prevent serious mental health issues. Just like sick days, you can offer mental health days in a limited yearly supply, with the option to extend them if a serious issue arises. Giving your employees time to nurture their mental health shows that you care about them as a person and not just for what they can do for the company. 5. Be Flexible With Paid Time Off Giving your staff members paid time off is a great way to show appreciation. You can award them additional vacation days that they can use at their leisure or dole out a few hours at a time with late starts, long lunches, and early quitting time. This gives them more time to spend with their family or do something else that they enjoy. 6. Cater Lunch or Provide Snacks Employers can show appreciation through various food-related gestures that cater to the tastes and preferences of their employees. Here are some ways to incorporate food as a form of appreciation: Employers can arrange for catered lunches to be brought into the office from popular local restaurants or specialized catering services that offer a variety of cuisines. Arranging for food trucks to visit the office provides a unique and enjoyable experience. Set up a well-stocked snack bar with a variety of healthy and indulgent options like fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, chips, chocolates, and soft drinks. Providing breakfast treats such as bagels, pastries, or a smoothie bar on certain days of the week can be a delightful way to start the day. 7. Make Celebrating Achievements the Norm As previously stated, showing employee appreciation isn’t just about one day; it’s about creating a culture of appreciation. Give positive feedback when your employees accomplish a small task or a big project. This feedback can be in the form of an e-mail or by stopping at their desk. Everyone has different comfort levels, so get to know your employees and what form of communication they are most comfortable with. Or send out a company-wide email acknowledging your employee's hard work, recent success on a specific project, or anything similar. Other co-workers will most likely respond to the email, adding other congratulations and resulting in an even bigger act of gratitude. One way you can implement this is by sharing your employee of the month through email. They will love the praise and be happier knowing you want to share their successes with the whole company. Setting up an employee recognition program is another way to give everyone the opportunity to be recognized, and it helps promote productivity in the workplace. 8. Speak Out Against Discrimination Having a company culture that refuses to tolerate any form of discrimination and aims to be as inclusive as possible is essential. However, taking measures to frequently discuss what that means will improve the employee experience and everyone’s sense of safety and empathy. No employee should be made to feel uncomfortable or discriminated against by any person or policy within (or outside of) the working environment. Show your appreciation for employees belonging to a minority or often discriminated groups. Make it easy for them to bring up concerns and normalize zero-tolerance for bias, bigotry, and discrimination of any kind. 9. Offer Career Advancement Upskilling is one of the most desirable factors in employment positions. Now, more than ever, employees want to know that there is room for them to grow and expand their careers. Offering career development programs is one great way to give them exactly that. The rapidly changing world of today means that constant reskilling and retraining exercises are necessary for certain employment roles to stay relevant. Implementing an upskilling program is one of the most useful, valuable, and future-oriented gifts a company can give its employees. 10. Give Career-Based Incentives One of the most practical ways to show your appreciation for employees is to give them rewards based on facilitating their current job. A bigger working space, a private working space, and mentorship are all highly valued rewards by strategic employees. Using job-based rewards as incentives for high performance shows that your company is ready and willing to compensate for hard work with realistic opportunities for individual career advancement. 11. Establish an Employee Recognition Program A great way to show appreciation is to set up an employee recognition program. Appreciation through awards is a reminder of their excellent work. Awards can range in cost depending on the company, but we have a list of ideas for employee appreciation awards to get you started. Another slightly more involved way is to use gamification to show your appreciation. For instance, you can have each team member claim a task. For each task completed, your team members will receive points associated with the value of their completed tasks. You can then allow employees to redeem their points using a corporate rewards portal. In the portal, you can offer anything from vacation days, to work-from-home days, or even scholarships for continuing education. 12. Offer Gym Memberships Employers can demonstrate commitment to their employees' well-being by offering free or discounted gym memberships, or by investing in an on-site company gym. These perks offer a convenient way for them to relieve stress, improve physical health, and boost mental clarity, all of which can enhance productivity and job satisfaction.For companies opting to build an in-house gym, it can encourage a healthy work-life balance, foster greater team bonding as colleagues may work out together, and ultimately, reflect the company's investment in its employees' long-term health and happiness. 13. Get Social Your company’s social media pages are an excellent place to share some good news. You can use your social media channels to recognize employees on special days, such as their anniversaries or birthdays. You could also post a photo along with a blurb highlighting an employee’s contribution to your company. You could also list fun and interesting facts about them that their current workers may not know. Or, you could write a glowing LinkedIn recommendation for a star staff member. This kind of recommendation can help them find success in their current role—and in the future. The Final Word: Always Be Authentic However your company chooses to celebrate achievements, express its appreciation, and reward employees, the most important thing is that it’s done with authenticity.People can pick up on forced or disingenuous gratitude far more easily than you’d think. That kind of expression is only going to cause a wave of eye-rolling and resentment within the workplace. Neither of which are good for the employees nor the company side they work for. Try Workmates Interactive Demo Click through it yourself withinteractive demo. Try It Now About the AuthorThis article is written by our marketing team at LIKE.TG. LIKE.TG is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!