Human resources (HR) leaders face intense competition when recruiting new talent and retaining employees. However, HR investments vary widely. Traditionally, many opt for free snacks, gym memberships and transportation. Now, HR organizations recognize that investing in digital employee experiences is far more meaningful.
“By providing exceptional digital employee experiences, companies empower their employees and see productivity gains. Those gains produce a more productive enterprise with significant performance improvements, including enhanced agility,” says Susan Insley, VMware vice president of human resources.
A recent survey on The Value of Digital Employee Experience revealed a strong link between giving employees a positive digital experience and a company's:
- Competitive position.
- Revenue growth.
- Employee sentiment.
The survey also showed that employees want a voice in digital decision-making. They look to HR as an ideal conduit for expanding the digital employee experience.
Given HR’s role as steward of corporate culture and employee engagement, this infographic illustrates 10 things every HR leader should know about the digital employee experience:
HR Leadership Advice for Positive Digital Employee Experiences
1. Be aware.
Candidates pay attention to your organization’s digital experience. Nearly 3-in-4 employee and HR respondents agree, “The flexibility of tools (technology, apps, devices, etc.) I might need to use for work would influence my decision to apply or accept a company’s position.”
2. The consumerization of IT is everywhere.
Employees expect the best digital tools. In fact, they want their organizations to place more importance on providing them.
3. Your best recruiters are your current employees.
Employees are far more likely to recommend their company (net promoter score) if it provides a great digital experience.
4. Digital employee experience impacts workforce sentiment.
When employees work remotely as easily as they can from the office, they more often say they are:
- Proud of their organization.
- Their organization has a progressive culture.
- Their organization provides a good work-life balance.
5. Current offerings may not be enough to compete for the talent you want.
Close to half (42%) of respondents report not having the digital tools they need to be successful in their jobs.
6. Employees are confused about who is in charge — HR or IT.
There’s a question about whether IT or HR oversees employee experience. Most respondents agree that HR and IT could work better together to improve the digital employee experience.
7. A stealth approach to improvements benefits no one.
Communication is critical, yet HR and IT are not efficiently collaborating to strategically build employee engagement initiatives.
8. Employees hope HR teams will step up to lead digital efforts.
Employees want HR to take a bigger role in the digital employee experience.
9. Where digital employee experience is strong, HR is strong.
Trust levels in HR are highest in successful organizations, providing a roadmap to others about the best path forward.
10. There’s a symbiotic relationship.
Business success depends on HR and IT collaboration around the digital employee experience.
“Now is the time for HR leaders to strengthen relationships with IT peers,” says Insley. “Together, they can vastly improve digital employee experiences and put their employees first.”
To learn more about the survey and digital employee experience, visit news.vmware.com/employeesfirst.