As the working landscape is changing further, with new technologies like AI booming and post-pandemic learnings becoming the new foundation of what’s possible, as an employer, manager, team lead or HR you need to familiarise yourself with 2024 EX Trends – that today’s employees are looking for.
In 2023, according to Gallup, only 33% of employees were engaged and even today “employees still feel more detached from — and less satisfied with — their organizations and are less likely to connect to the companies’ mission and purpose or to feel someone cares about them as a person.”
The decline in role clarity, caused by team restructuring and budget cuts, all led to employees feeling worried, stressed and burned out. So how can you improve the lives of your employees this year so that they can in turn help your business grow?
A reminder – What is Employee Experience?
The CX Academy defines Employee Experience as how employees feel about all of the interactions they have with your organisation. Their feelings begin developing right from the moment that they see the job advertisement (maybe even before that if you are a large international company) up to the time they receive a call from HR asking why they left and their experience during the work.
However, as we enter 2024, the definition of employee experience continues to evolve. Therefore you need to remember that it takes into account not only productivity but also mental well-being, professional growth, and a sense of purpose.
Key Trends Shaping Employee Experience in 2024
Emphasis on Mental Health and Well-being
Mental health and well-being are becoming critical components of the employee experience. The rise of remote work brought to light the importance of supporting employees’ mental health, as isolation and stress became ongoing challenges.
“The corporate wellness market was valued at an estimated $61 billion in 2023, and this number is expected to rise to $85 billion by 2030.”
Investing in resources and initiatives aimed at promoting mental well-being, such as employee assistance programs, and mindfulness workshops creates a personalised wellness experience. This in turn enhances employee productivity, satisfaction and retention rates. On top of this, organisations are also implementing policies that promote work-life balance and reduce sources of stress in the workplace such as flexible scheduling, remote work models, paid time off for mental health and AI solutions to allow employees to focus on the more enjoyable tasks.
Hybrid Work Models
The hybrid work model is here and here to stay. According to the latest Qualtrics Employee Experience Trends Report, this is the answer to satisfied employees.
This model acknowledges that one size does not fit all and recognises the diverse preferences and circumstances of employees. For some, the flexibility to work remotely removes time-wasting commuting and fosters a better work-life balance. Others thrive in the structured environment of the office, finding comfort and support in face-to-face interactions.
The main point to understand is that it needs to be Hybrid, “Some time in the office is better than none – just not 5 days” Employees working 1-3 days from home reported 76% engagement versus those working zero days from home who reported only 60%.
By providing flexibility and freedom, you can enhance employee satisfaction and productivity and empower your employees to tailor their work environment to suit their individual needs and preferences.
Professional Continuous Development & Learning
In an age where new technologies and discoveries are going viral every day, offering your employees access to continuous learning and development is a game changer.
Companies today are offering more solutions for their employees to upskill and develop their knowledge. From online courses like ours to in-person workshops, these organisations are putting their money into their employees because they know they are one of their most valuable assets.
As Megan Cook said, “This trend is not only about enhancing skills but also about fostering a culture of curiosity and growth.” From personal experience, we know that companies want to empower their employees to deliver CX Excellence to all their customers, and upskilling them in areas that really matter and can make a difference is vital.
At The CX Academy, we specialise in training teams of all sizes to deliver exceptional experiences to all your customers, through improving their soft skills like communication and emotional intelligence to learning how to design and deliver successful CX Strategies.
If you would like to learn more about how we can help you improve your Employee Experience and increase your business profits reach out to us today at info@thecxacademy.org.
AI Support in the Workplace
AI is not just a chatbot anymore. Every day it gets better and becomes more capable of filling in for humans. And while it can do some things just as well as your staff – it will not replace them. The key understanding here is that AI will not take your staff’s role away – it will change it. Therefore following up on our previous trend you need to take care of your employees and upskill them in the areas that will improve your business and their roles.
Organisations like yours are implementing AI for the benefit of their employees (and their businesses). Employers are already utilising AI to identify employees who haven’t received recognition in a while or help them find relevant resources in the company’s knowledge base. One of the most popular ways of supporting your staff with AI is through streamlining workflows and taking care of repetitive and monotonous tasks.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Other ways to use AI in your company for your employees include:
- Personalised onboarding
- Proactive performance management & reporting
- Well-being and mental health support
- Talent acquisition
4 Day Week
Apart from the remote-work model and flexible work schedules, the idea of a 4-day working week has been reignited by Covid-19. “Hailed as the future of employee productivity and work-life balance, advocates for the four-day workweek suggest that when implemented, worker satisfaction increases, and so does productivity.”
Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Iceland, Spain, Japan, USA, UK, Scotland and Wales are all among the countries that have tried and tested the 4-day working week. Some have even officially implemented it.
The reason why it hasn’t been implemented worldwide yet, is that there are many deliberations on whether or not it’s a valid option. The major benefit that is argued for this type of work schedule, is increased productivity. Studies have shown that “employees on a 4-day work week are often just as productive, or even more productive than their 5-day counterparts. This is likely due to increased focus, motivation, and reduced burnout.” as Workassist says.
However, on the flip side, it comes with scheduling challenges and potential resistance from employees (especially if there would be a pay cut associated with it).
Final Thoughts
Many trends are steering the decision-making process of team leaders and managers like yourself. However, the main takeaway is that your ultimate goal should be focused on what will make your employees’ lives easier and better, and what will allow them to get better satisfaction from their daily tasks. At the end of the day, your employees are the ones who will deliver CX Excellence for all your customers.
If you would like to learn more about Customer Experience, enrol in our Professional Diploma in CX today.
