This is the third of a 4-part article featuring excerpts from the Reimagine Work white paper. The white paper compiles data from three studies - Employer Brand Research, Workmonitor and most recently, Talent Expectations Survey - to help employers understand work-life balance as defined by employees to create meaningful and useful engagement initiatives and strengthen talent attraction strategies.
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Following the footsteps of global multinationals that have invested in a vast land space to build offices and community areas to foster a sense of community and belonging, many other companies have transformed their offices as well.
Concepts like hot desking became more popular as organisations aim to create a positive workplace culture by making space for collaborative and recreational spaces like a bigger pantry, more meeting rooms and even a relaxation corner.
However, how much do employers research to find out if this is exactly what workers want before they make big investments to change the entire office environment.
it’s the people we work with who matters
Randstad’s Talent Expectations Survey revealed working with friendly bosses and colleagues who make work enjoyable is a key factor in a work environment. By contrast, concepts like hot desking and having more meeting rooms are less appealing to talent.
factors about work environment that matter to people
organisational culture is your foundation to a successful talent attractions and retention strategy
A healthy work environment is defined and measured by the people around us. When employees feel a sense of belonging and ease at work, productivity increases and employee satisfaction grows.
An employee-centric culture that makes people feel safe, valued and supported is a valuable tool in strengthening your employer brand.
The rise of flexible work is changing the game of how we work. However, in a hybrid work model, a number of remote workers continue to struggle as they experience loss of social connection with co-workers, lacking the sense of unity.
So how can employers strengthen company culture to improve employee experience as well as attracting and retaining talent in a world of remote work?
how to build an attractive hybrid workplace culture
1. create structured opportunities for socialising
In remote teams, there are fewer social opportunities for spontaneous watercooler chats or friendly catch ups in the pantry. That means leaders will need to proactively create structured time for socialisation such as company events to promote inclusive culture and employee engagement.
Consider organising team bonding activities like exercising, karaoke nights or meals with your teams to boost the feelings of inclusion for employees and foster deep connections with colleagues.
2. make your appreciation tangible
While a ‘thank you’ for their hard work goes a long way, tangible forms of appreciation can make your talent feel truly valued. An appreciation for employees doesn’t need to be monetary, you can opt for sending care packages, milestone celebrations and team awards. Instead of just expressing your thanks to them in person, you can also write an appreciation post on social media so that they feel more recognised by their leaders and peers.
3. make learning a lifelong journey
One key benefit that employers should not overlook is coaching and career development opportunities for employees. When you invest in upskilling your talent, you signal that you value their personal development, and not just their professional development. In particular, mentoring programmes can help people build connections as well as guide them towards growing into future leaders of your organisation.
4. help talent practice job crafting
Job crafting empowers talent to make work more meaningful by tailoring their roles to their interests and strengths. Create a culture of empowerment by enabling employees to propose and lead projects that excite them. This provides them with a sense of meaning when they are doing their work. You can also work with your employees to redesign their job scope collaboratively to fulfil their career goals, increasing their job satisfaction and giving them one more reason to stay with the organisation.
5. act on employee feedback
To build a strong company culture that employees love, you’ll need to foster a culture of giving and receiving feedback. This can happen through a variety of formal and informal channels, from anonymous pulse surveys to casual one-on-one discussions. It’s critical to take action on employees’ feedback so that they feel that their opinions are being taken seriously. This will encourage more employees to share their feedback to help build a positive company culture and make the company a better place to work for, while strengthening your talent attraction and employee retention strategy.
download the reimagine work white paper
The Reimagine Work white paper is a great resource for business leaders to improve their talent experience. The white paper provides useful information on building an attractive workplace culture, leveraging technology, strengthening employer branding, and developing a culture of feedback and appreciation.
The paper is available for free download here:
Reach out to our specialised consultants for the latest talent trends or want to know more about the latest market insights. Through market mapping and conversations with our clients and candidates, we can inform you of the latest job market and HR trends that you can turn into actionable strategies to attract and retain talent.
Alternatively, if you are a job seeker seeking a better work-life balance and job opportunities, explore your career options and apply for a job that fits your skills and expectations.