The employee experience is the customer experience.
At Foundever®, this core belief drives everything we do. The employee experience is the basis for delivering exceptional customer experiences. When employees feel engaged, supported and valued, the benefits ripple through to customers and business outcomes. Happy, motivated employees are more likely to go the extra mile, create meaningful interactions and contribute to a positive brand image. In turn, this leads to improved customer loyalty, higher satisfaction scores and a stronger bottom line.
By investing in your people, you ensure that the foundation for your success remains strong — your employees. Focus on this and you’ll start to see positive business results.
What is employee experience?
The employee experience includes all the interactions an employee has with their employer, from recruitment to daily work life to when they leave the company. It’s the sum of all touchpoints and experiences that an employee encounters during their journey with an organization. It goes beyond pay and benefits and includes the work culture, environment, support from leaders and chances to grow.
A positive employee experience fueled by recognition drives engagement, productivity and innovation, as well as captures significant cost savings. In fact, recent research shows that if the average organization doubled the number of employees who strongly agreed that they received recognition or praise for doing good work in the last seven days, they would see massive benefits. The productivity gain would amount to almost $92 million in cost savings.
To drive success in today’s competitive landscape, you need to prioritize the people who power your business. Every day, your employees create experiences, and their individual contributions make an impact. By investing in their journeys, you’re building a stronger workforce and making sure the experiences they deliver are extraordinary.
Improving employee experience requires more than just a few perks. It demands a holistic approach. You need to create an environment where your employees feel safe, respected and empowered to deliver their best work. When you create a positive experience for your team, it directly translates into better customer interactions, higher retention rates and a more profitable business. IBM research on the financial impact of a positive employee experience shows that companies that score in the top 25% on employee experience report:
- Nearly three times the return on assets compared to organizations in the bottom quartile
- Double the return on sales compared to companies in the bottom quartile
Elevate your employee experience, and watch your business thrive!
Why employee wellbeing matters
Employee wellbeing is at the heart of the employee experience. When employees feel well mentally, physically and emotionally, they perform at their best. Make it your mission to support your employees’ overall health through comprehensive wellness programs that are tailored to their needs. These initiatives address stress management, mental health and work-life balance, allowing your people to bring their best selves to work.
Stress and burnout are significant challenges in today’s fast-paced work environments. Without the right support systems, employees can quickly become disengaged and unproductive. But when businesses prioritize wellbeing, the opposite happens — employees are more motivated, engaged and loyal. Wellness programs should offer practical tools and resources to help employees manage stress, improve their mental health and stay connected through physical activities, leading to a healthier and happier workforce. This is especially important to keep in mind as a new generation — one that values mental health and mindfulness more than any other generation — comes into the job market.
How to improve employee experience
Improving employee experience starts with understanding your workforce and what your people need to thrive. Continuously gather feedback from your teams to shape your approach. To improve employee experience effectively, organizations must focus on several key areas:
- Clear communication: Keeping employees informed and involved in decision-making processes enhances trust and engagement. Regular check-ins and transparent communication build a culture where employees feel valued and heard.
- Growth opportunities: Providing opportunities for professional development and career advancement is an important factor in improving employee experience. Employees want to know that their careers are going somewhere. Offer a wide range of training programs, leadership development and career pathways to keep teams growing.
- Work-life balance: Flexibility in working arrangements has become increasingly important in today’s workforce. Companies can help create a good balance between work and home life by allowing remote work, flexible hours and wellness programs. This can lower stress and make employees happier at their jobs.
- Recognition and rewards: Recognizing and rewarding employees for their hard work boosts morale and motivation. Make sure your employees feel appreciated through various recognition programs, both at a team and individual level.
By focusing on these areas, organizations can significantly improve the employee experience and, in turn, enhance the overall performance of their teams.
Engagement fuels collaboration and innovation
An engaged workforce is a creative and innovative one. Collaboration is essential for growth, so encourage your people to connect through team activities and wellness events that nurture both professional and personal bonds. These initiatives help employees feel a sense of belonging and remind them that they’re part of something bigger. Engagement also promotes the free exchange of ideas, which drives innovation and leads to better problem-solving.
When employees are engaged, they’re more likely to take initiative, contribute new ideas and work collaboratively with others. This sense of ownership and connection within teams strengthens internal culture and enhances the quality of service provided to clients.
Creating a lasting impact through positive perception
The way employees perceive their organization has a lasting impact on their engagement and loyalty. A good employee experience helps retain talent longer, lowers turnover and makes people feel more connected to the company’s mission. You must continuously work to create an environment where employees feel valued and supported, ensuring they are seen and heard.
Employees who feel connected to their workplace are more motivated to contribute to its success. This deeper connection results in enhanced customer interactions, improved service delivery and a more resilient organization overall.
Ready to see how a people-first approach can transform your business? Explore the personal journeys and stories of our incredible global workforce at Stories.Foundever.com. See how their passion and hard work help every day. Find out how caring for employees can improve both your team and your customer satisfaction.