Employee Experience: Valued, Motivated, Empowered

Colleen Moore, Director of Talent Acquisition at Alvarado Restaurant Nation

We can look back to the industrial age and map the evolution of the employee-workplace dynamic.  This history includes creating worker efficiency by examining the physical workspace, assessing personality to determine fit in a job, and feedback loops to learn how to keep employees engaged. Here we are, 100 years later well into another era of employee dynamics – Employee Experience.  

Employee Experience (EX) is about cultivating a workplace where employees feel valued, motivated, and empowered through programs and offerings that speak to the whole of an employee, not just the role they play in a company. In addition, EX will look different depending on factors such as industry and company size. When done right, a positive EX can significantly impact retention, productivity, and overall company success.

Understanding Employee Experience

Employee experience encompasses every interaction an employee has within the workplace, from the initial job application through the interview and hiring process, to their daily work environment, career development opportunities, social responsibility, and beyond. A positive employee experience supports employee motivation to complete their work with accuracy and speed and employee positive well-being. When these employee factors are in check, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction ultimately improve.   

Recruitment and Onboarding: Setting the Stage

The employee journey begins with recruitment and onboarding, where first impressions are critical. Job seekers use various channels to find companies that offer a safe workplace, care about their well-being, and support their communities. Looking at EX from this starting point, one can see the importance of leveraging technology for seamless application experiences and social media platforms to enhance employer branding to reach a broader candidate pool.

Once hired, effective onboarding is key to integrating new employees into the company and their roles smoothly. Beyond the basics of job training, successful onboarding should include immersive experiences that introduce employees to company culture, values, and customer service expectations. This is the time to welcome new employees and get them excited to work with your team.

Microlearning and Continuous Development

Ongoing learning and development are essential for employee engagement and retention. After all, a well-trained workforce is an efficient workforce, and employees thrive on opportunities to learn and develop. Microlearning can be ideal training options for many companies as they can be delivered through mobile-friendly platforms that allow employees to learn on the go and at their own pace. Commonly these short, focused learning modules are used to support operational job-related functions.  However, we can also create Microlearning to support softer skills and culture-related topics. Integrating culture-related Microlearnings into daily employee life demonstrates the importance of your culture, what it is, and how to live it daily. Imagine your employees at all levels as well versed in how to live the organization's cultural values as they are in their daily tasks. 

"Investing in Employee Experience fosters motivated, engaged employees, driving retention, productivity, and success, creating a workplace where employees feel valued, empowered, and integral to the company's growth."

Employee Engagement and Recognition

When talking about EX, we can’t ignore the idea of employee engagement. Think of employee engagement as a short team reaction to the daily environment, whereas the employee experience is the longer-term accumulation of one’s total experience with an organization.  Engaged employees are more likely to deliver exceptional customer service and contribute positively to team dynamics, which leads to improvements in the bottom-line metrics. In industries where frontline employees interact directly with customers, fostering a culture of engagement is paramount. Employee engagement speaks to the hallmarks of the employee experience of feeling valued, motivated, and empowered. Elements of supporting employee engagement include:

● Recognition Programs: Acknowledging and celebrating employee achievements.

● Feedback Mechanisms: Implementing regular feedback loops where employees can share their insights and suggestions for improvement.

● Workplace Environment: Creating a supportive and inclusive workplace where diversity is celebrated and employees feel safe and respected.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Employees' desire to make an impact in their roles, organizations, and communities highlights the importance of companies emphasizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Engaging employees in volunteer activities or supporting local causes not only strengthens ties with the community but also fosters a sense of pride and purpose among employees. CSR initiatives also contribute to a positive employer brand that attracts top talent.

The Bottom Line: Impact on Business Success

Investing in EX is a strategic initiative that directly impacts success. In today’s competitive business landscape, where customer loyalty and operational efficiency are key differentiators, motivated and engaged employees can make all the difference. Regardless of size, all companies can prioritize EX through effective recruitment, robust training programs, development opportunities, well-being initiatives, CSR, and supportive workplace cultures. In doing so businesses will cultivate workplaces where employees feel valued, motivated, and empowered.