Boosting employee satisfaction and retention in evolving work environments

Unlock the future of HR with insights on workplace flexibility, core values, employee retention and impactful training strategies for a thriving culture.

Electives team

Published on

Aug 11, 2023

Diverse team of business people working around a table in an office.

Insights from Ellen Raim, Founder of People MatterWe focus more on solving than preventing People problems.

To keep valuable employees and have a thriving workplace, HR and people leaders must foster innovation and prioritize the development of their team members. To support your initiatives, we’ve distilled the trends and key insights from a recent report on the state of culture in 2023.

Modern work dynamics

Today's workplace values flexibility, with hybrid work models emerging as the dominant trend. While virtual communication tools are ubiquitous, many companies need help creating connections across teams.

64% of respondents operate in hybrid work environments.
Only 8% are fully remote.
65% use platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams to maintain team cohesion.

Actionable steps for HR + people leaders:

Prioritize developing the infrastructure needed to support flexible work environments.
Assess the need for digital collaboration tools tailored to organizational requirements.
Creating opportunities for team bonding, where the conversation is not focused on business projects or initiatives.

The power of core values

Organizational values are integral to shaping employee experiences, because values offer clarity and purpose, especially during challenging times. Values allow your employees to align themselves with your company's mission.

Most people believe core values enhance the employee experience.
Core values play a pivotal role during stressful periods.
Over half of HR leaders link employee recognition to core values.

Actionable steps for HR + people leaders:

Re-evaluate and communicate core values regularly.
Implement live learning sessions focused on aligning employees with organizational values.
Recognize and reward employees who exemplify your values.

Understanding employee retention

Investment in employee retention is critical to unlocking the potential within your teams.

Most HR leaders see retention as a top priority.
Turnover remains a significant challenge, with most organizations observing no decrease in turnover during the past year.

Actionable steps for HR + people leaders:

Conduct regular feedback sessions to understand employee needs.
Offer personal development opportunities that help employees feel valued as people.
Collaborate with teams to design retention strategies that resonate with your company culture.

A holistic approach to employee experience

A strong employee experience is vital for a healthy, unified culture. To be effective, the employee experience should focus on the employee as a whole person — not just as a professional in your organization.

Slightly more than two-thirds of organizations offer wellness programs.
Although employees believe diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) programs are crucial, the perceived impact of these programs lessens with increased employee tenure.
Most organizations have a strategy for employee recognition.

Actionable steps for HR + people leaders:

Keep your DEIB programming fresh with classes taught by instructors with diverse lived experiences.
Update and communicate wellness initiatives to emphasize your company's commitment to wellbeing.
Consider peer recognition platforms to foster a culture of appreciation.

Embracing HR's future

HR and people operations are undergoing a transformative shift. Technology is playing an instrumental role, while data-driven strategies and AI promise to revolutionize talent management and more. Leveraging insights and taking action to shape a future where employees thrive will be one of many ways companies will grow.

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