As technology continues to advance and change the way we work, the job market is becoming more employee-centric than ever before. Companies, therefore, need to focus on employee engagement if they want to attract and retain a motivated and productive workforce.
These same advances in technology have brought about certain challenges as the workforce has become more dispersed due to a growing number of employees who are working remotely and telecommuting.
To overcome the challenge of keeping a decentralised workforce engaged, many companies are turning to HR Tech.
But what exactly is HR Tech?
HR Tech (human resources technology) is an umbrella term for software and any associated hardware for automating the human resources function in organisations. It includes employee payroll and compensation, talent acquisition and management, workforce analytics, performance management, and benefits administration.
Now, let’s take a look at 5 ways in which HR tech is creating a more engaged workforce.
1. It gives employees a better work/life balance.
HR Tech has allowed the workforce to become more engaged by allowing them to create a better balance between their work and their personal lives. Through remote working arrangements employees now have the opportunity to find a work/life balance that suits them.
Remote work is also giving employees their time back. Instead of an hour in traffic, they can spend more time with friends and family.
This trend is on the up and is not slowing down. 43% of Americans said they spent at least some time working remotely in 2016, up from 39% in 2012.
The increase in remote working arrangements has greatly increased the need for more effective tools to ensure that everyone is collaborating efficiently.
By tapping into the power of HR Tech, organisations can give their employees simple and effective ways to communicate with other team members. Tools like Slack, Evernote, Basecamp and Trello are making it easier to collaborate across teams and functions and keep in touch with the latest developments in the company.
These tools get employees working together. It creates an atmosphere of teamwork and ensures everyone is on the same page. When team cohesion is lacking, there is a high probability that employees will feel less engaged.
2. It provides opportunities for upskilling.
Today’s work environment requires highly engaged employees who are willing to constantly learn and improve their skills. Although the cost of acquiring these skills can often be very high.
Traditional methods of learning are struggling to keep up with ever-increasing business requirements. Many companies realise this and are keeping their workforce engaged by providing their employees with microlearning opportunities to help them upskill themselves and bridge the skills gap.
Airbnb has started their own internal university to teach data science and LinkedIn are also running an AI course to bridge their employees’ skills gaps.
3. It makes employee recognition easier.
Employee recognition plays a vital role when it comes to increasing levels of employee engagement. When employees feel recognised they are likely to be more engaged.
The challenge that organisations face though is that as teams grow and become more remote, staying on top of employee recognition can become tricky.This is where HR tech tools such as bountiXP truly shine. They allow managers the opportunity to recognise their peers and take the art of saying “thanks” to the next level so that employees know that their work is not going unnoticed.
4. It allows for continuous feedback.
The yearly performance review is simply no longer enough to invoke engagement from employees. A lack of regular, helpful feedback is a serious contributor to employee disengagement.
Employees need regular discussions with their line managers in order to feel like a valued, integral part of the team.
A survey found that leaders who scored in the top 10% on giving regular feedback had employees who were 3 times more engaged than employees with leaders in the bottom 10%.
Companies are turning to pulse surveys which afford management the ability to check in with employees more frequently.
Pulse surveys provide insight into employee engagement by regularly sending out short surveys through HR Tech platforms. This gives employers insights to develop data-based solutions.
Solutions like this allow management to be more in tune with the mood of the workplace and can deal with issues as and when they arise.
More regular check-ins by management keep employees engaged as they see that their concerns are being looked into and addressed.
5. It lets employees track their own performance.
The right performance management tools help HR departments monitor and share performance metrics over time as well as identifies opportunities for improvements among employees.
When employees are given the ability to set and track their own performance indicators which are relevant to their job function, they feel empowered and engaged.
These performance indicators let them know whether or not they are meeting company standards.
HR Tech is helping employees do self-evaluations, initiate one-on-one discussions and keep a record of discussions with management.
Conclusion
Without a consistently positive employee experience companies are unable to retain top talent, they become ineffective in recruiting for the long-term and ultimately become less profitable than they otherwise would be. This has become increasingly challenging to accomplish through traditional methods as the workforce has become more dispersed through remote working arrangements.
By correctly incorporating HR Tech into their employee engagement effort, companies give themselves the opportunity to build a far more engaged workforce over time which boosts productivity for the long haul.