The work culture is a key component to a successful business. This article will discuss how creating a more employee-centric workplace can help your company flourish.
Employee-centric culture is a workplace culture that emphasizes the importance of employees. It can be created by incorporating employee feedback, creating an open office space, and offering flexible work hours.
An employee-centric workplace is one in which open lines of communication, ideas, creativity, and innovation are encouraged across the company. Companies are rushing to rethink the working experience as a result of the epidemic, which has left workers feeling more alienated than ever. One that can operate both remotely and on-site that prioritizes the needs and well-being of their most valuable asset – their employees.
How to Create a Workplace That Values Employees
The four categories below are where business leaders and HR managers should concentrate their efforts in order to build a more employee-centric and inclusive workplace.
1. Encourage choice and flexibility.
One thing is certain: there will be no turning back to the old methods as businesses rush to come up with new regulations on remote working. Employees now have new expectations when it comes to how, when, and where they may work now that they’ve experienced the flexibility of being able to work in their jammies. Instead of trying to suppress this movement, businesses should embrace it.
Over a thousand working parents were polled by Working Families, and 9 out of 10 said they wanted their employer to be more flexible after COVID-19.
From the minute an employee walks into the office, an employee-centric workplace should be designed to promote flexibility. This includes creating room for hot desks, private working booths, and open cafeteria-style workplaces that mimic working at home, in a park, or in a coworking space rather than in a conventional office.
In their San Francisco workplace, Square, for example, has implemented a fully “task-based” structure that enables workers from various departments to freely sit or stand and interact with one another. On occasion, even the CEO may be seen working at one of the standing desks strewn around the area. To much excitement, the new layout provides a flexible work atmosphere that may be as private or open as any employee desires.
2. Create a more compassionate work environment
Because so few individuals have escaped the COVID-19 epidemic unharmed, employees put a high emphasis on “empathy” in the workplace. According to a Businessolver study, one-third of workers would leave their current business for one that is more compassionate, and 40% would be prepared to work longer hours. That is an important message for business executives to hear.
So, how can a business become more compassionate? It all begins with management and workers learning how to just “listen” to one another. Create a culture where employees are encouraged to voice their concerns — no matter how little — to another employee and, more importantly, to be heard.
To do this, business leaders must take control and lead by example. When workers realize that even the top brass can be open and honest with them, it has a trickle-down impact that may affect the whole company. Employees should also feel comfortable airing complaints with HR, knowing that their discussions will be kept confidential at all times.
The ability to ask the appropriate questions is the most essential aspect of good listening. They show the speaker that you were not just paying attention but also caring enough to desire to help improve things.
Effective inquiries should be precise to demonstrate that you were paying attentively, sympathetic in tone, and constructive in nature in order to provide insight and potential solutions. If a colleague shows stress at work, for example, inquire about the projects he’s working on, his connections at work and at home, and how you’ve dealt with similar problems in the past.
3. Make employee health and wellbeing a top priority.
Employees appreciate businesses that care about their emotional and physical wellness now more than ever. COVID-19 has reminded us all that our health is more important than everything else in our lives.
Mental health has emerged as a critical issue for businesses to improve in the workplace. According to recent study, the population’s feelings of uncertainty, sorrow, and loneliness have increased dramatically.
PriMed Management Consulting, for example, polled all 480 of its workers to create a health risk assessment in order to better understand and address mental health. It was discovered that its workers were the ones who were most vulnerable to stress. The business immediately adopted a number of actions based on this information. An after-work fitness program, guided meditation sessions, and a recording system for workers to submit their stress records were among the initiatives.
Another aspect of employee well-being that businesses should focus on is ergonomics. The absence of a suitable workstation setup is one of the most common concerns among workers who work from home. According to the New York Times, COVID-19 has resulted in a significant increase in the number of injuries among WFH employees, who are complaining of back and neck discomfort, among other musculoskeletal problems.
Renovating an office for improved ergonomics not only solves this issue, but it’s also a fantastic method to persuade workers to return to work when many are reluctant to do so.
An ergonomic workplace may include dedicated standing desks for employees to use on a regular basis, more comfortable ergonomic chairs, laptop stands, and a workspace that is appropriately designed for ergonomics to minimize the risk of repetitive strain injuries at work.
4. Encourage a culture of lifelong learning.
Millions of students enroll in college in the United States each year for a good reason: they want to acquire new skills and enhance their employability. For this luxury, many are even prepared to go on debt. Fostering a culture of learning at work, so workers don’t feel like they’re getting stagnant by going to work every day, is an essential component of an employee-centric company. It’s one of the most effective strategies for retaining and motivating employees.
In most cases, HR would take the lead in establishing an education aid program. Continuous learning may take the form of assisting workers in obtaining a professional certificate, an undergraduate or graduate degree, or even in-house mentoring, depending on the nature of the business. A repayment plan for student loans may also be included in the proposal.
The advantages of having a workplace that is focused on its employees
The following are some of the advantages of creating an employee-centric workplace:
- Employees are more motivated and productive.
- Reduced employee turnover
- A more contented and happy staff
- There’s a better possibility of recruiting and keeping great personnel at a lower cost.
The concept of a workplace has never been more flexible, and employee expectations have never been greater than they are today. The answer for business leaders to meet this issue is to concentrate on the well-being of their workers, who are the company’s heart and soul.
Employee-centric companies are those that take into account the needs and wants of their employees. This creates a more positive work environment, where workers can feel appreciated and valued. Reference: employee-centric companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an employee-centric culture?
An employee-centric culture is a business culture where the employees are highly valued and their opinions are listened to.
How do you improve employee culture?
The best way to improve the culture of an organization is by having a strong leadership presence.
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