{"id":4351,"date":"2024-07-15T13:54:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T17:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/blog\/improve-employee-experience\/"},"modified":"2025-01-29T12:43:32","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T17:43:32","slug":"improve-employee-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/blog\/improve-employee-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Improve Your Employee Experience: 4 Overlooked Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the surface, HR focuses on creating a positive workplace environment to attract and retain employees. However, dig a little deeper, and you\u2019ll see how multifaceted and nuanced the employee experience can be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a reminder, the <a href=\"\/blog\/employee-experience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">employee experience<\/a> encompasses the entire employee lifecycle and directly impacts employee engagement, retention, and productivity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you consider the full capacity of employee experience, it becomes clear that there\u2019s plenty of ground to cover. Unfortunately, <\/span><a href=\"\/insight\/2024-current-state-of-the-employee-experience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">only 17% of organizations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> excel in this area, leaving significant room for error.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 Focus Areas for a Better Employee Experience<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In our recent webinar, \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/primepay.com\/webinar\/the-ex-factor-why-employee-experience-should-be-a-priority\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>The EX Factor: Why Employee Experience Should Be A Priority<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u201d we pinpointed the most overlooked areas in employee experience. Some of HR\u2019s best and brightest joined us to share their expert insights:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Barry Marshall<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The go-to expert for start-ups aiming to scale quickly and successfully. He\u2019s built and managed numerous high-performing teams.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Lorna Hagen<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A Human Capital Executive with over two decades of experience. She\u2019s known for transforming HR teams, policies, and practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Lisa Parks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Managing Partner and General Counsel at McDougall Advisors. She\u2019s been an HR leader and executive coach for over twenty years.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/primepay.com\/webinar\/the-ex-factor-why-employee-experience-should-be-a-priority\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-10969 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-3.19.16\u202fPM.jpg\" alt=\"employee experience webinar\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Together, they highlighted the critical (and often unnoticed) aspects that can make or break the employee experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"jump-link-one\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Clarity of Expectations<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Setting clear expectations is fundamental to improving employee experience, yet it\u2019s often undervalued. Unclear expectations can lead to a cascade of adverse outcomes impacting individual performance and the organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Confusion about job roles:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Without clear expectations, employees become <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">confused about their roles<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and responsibilities. This confusion wastes time and effort, as employees may not focus on the tasks that propel the company forward.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stress and frustration:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ambiguity in job roles and expectations creates unnecessary stress and frustration. Most employees genuinely want to perform well and accomplish what they set out to do, but lacking clear direction and not fully understanding their purpose and role impedes their success.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Loss of confidence in hiring decisions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Insufficient clarity also makes employees feel anxious and demotivated, resulting in absenteeism and even burnout. As a manager or HR professional, you may question whether the employee is a good fit for the company and the job since they\u2019re not meeting your expectations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These outcomes reveal the disconnect between your expectations and what the employee perceives as their role and responsibilities, which can undermine organizational success.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marshall explains this misalignment with five words: \u201cUnspoken expectations are premeditated resentments.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a moment to let that sink in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If we fail to communicate our expectations from the beginning and frequently, we\u2019re setting our employees up for disappointment and resentment \u2014 simply because they didn\u2019t know.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How To Set Clear Expectations<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To set clear expectations, don\u2019t assume employees know what\u2019s expected of them. Marshall says, \u201cAs People Leaders, we have to do better at communicating our expectations, recognizing when we failed to do so, and taking action to do it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>To <\/b><b>set clear expectations<\/b><b>:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clearly outline company objectives and align them with the goals set for employees.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Devise a path for employees to follow and ensure the goals are measurable and attainable.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regularly review these goals and adjust them to adapt to changing circumstances.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engage in continuous dialogue with your staff to ensure they understand their role and how it plays into the grand scheme.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providing well-articulated expectations and guidance empowers employees to succeed, and it\u2019s foundational for enhancing employee experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"jump-link-two\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Managing A Multi-Generational Workforce<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The modern office doesn\u2019t consist of just two or three generations; it includes five distinct generations in the workplace:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditionalists<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baby Boomers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generation X<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Millennials<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generation Z<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4353\" src=\"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/generational-diversity-in-the-workplace.jpg\" alt=\"generational diversity in the workplace\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/generational-diversity-in-the-workplace.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/generational-diversity-in-the-workplace-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mercer.com\/insights\/total-rewards\/employee-wellbeing\/smart-personalization-providing-employee-benefits-for-every-generation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each generation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> brings its unique perspectives and work styles, but the real challenge is meeting the various needs of multiple generations. Meeting those needs is, of course, a challenge. As Hagen aptly explains, \u201cWhat I want at close to fifty is not the same as someone who\u2019s twenty-two.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, Baby Boomers value preventative and easily accessible medical care, such as telehealth benefits and cancer screenings. Generation X and Millennials often find themselves in the caregiver position at home and face heavy financial burdens. In this case, benefits for their dependents and comprehensive health coverage are more attractive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, <\/span><a href=\"\/hr-glossary\/what-is-generation-z-or-gen-z\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generation Z<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is primarily concerned with prioritizing their mental well-being, reducing stress, and avoiding burnout. They value mental health benefits that are quickly accessible, such as apps or virtual visits with mental health professionals offering 24\/7 urgent care.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hagen also points out that companies \u201care realizing that they just don\u2019t know how to manage the needs of five generations in the workplace.\u201d Failing to recognize and address the diverse demands of multigenerational employees can have a far-reaching impact on employee experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How To Account For Multiple Generations<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a more individualized approach when it comes to <\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/benefits-multigenerational-workforce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">multigenerational benefits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Start by conducting employee surveys to understand what each employee values and needs. Use this feedback to tailor benefits solutions specific to them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hagen suggests extending this approach to include employees\u2019 dependents in the conversation. She witnessed great success by creating a comprehensive total rewards experience that included an employee benefits playbook and packet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of merely distributing the information to employees, the company also mailed the packets to the employees\u2019 dependents. This inclusive approach ensures dependents feel informed and involved in what\u2019s happening at the company. At the same time, employees feel supported, acknowledged, and understood.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"jump-link-three\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Continuously Updating Offboarding Processes<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When improving employee experience, the focus often falls on onboarding and the day-to-day journey of an employee within the organization. While these aspects are undeniably crucial in setting the tone for employee engagement and productivity, the offboarding process is an equally important yet frequently overlooked component.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shrm.org\/topics-tools\/news\/employee-relations\/lasting-impressions-upgrade-offboarding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offboarding<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is not merely about managing the logistics of an employee\u2019s departure. Instead, it is a critical opportunity to leave a lasting positive impression, ensure seamless knowledge transfer, and gather valuable feedback for organizational improvement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, this significant phase is often neglected. <\/span><a href=\"\/insight\/2024-current-state-of-the-employee-experience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forty-two percent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of HR departments have a standardized offboarding process, and only fifty-five percent have updated their offboarding process within the last year. What&#8217;s more, only 64% reporting using a structured analysis of exit interview data to improve the employee experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4354\" src=\"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/offboarding-employee-experience-data.png\" alt=\"offboarding employee experience data\" width=\"633\" height=\"283\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The absence of regular updates and standardization in offboarding processes underscores a significant area for improvement. Prioritizing the employee experience during offboarding can transform departing employees into advocates for your company and provide insights that enhance employee experience for current and future staff.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By continuously updating and refining the offboarding process, you can ensure that it remains effective and is aligned with employee experience best practices.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How To Ensure Your Offboarding Process Is Up-To-Date<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">few essential steps<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to help ensure your offboarding process isn\u2019t lackluster:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Start with regularly reviewing your process.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Schedule periodic audits at least once a year to identify gaps or outdated information\/practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Structure exit interviews.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Continuously collecting feedback from departing employees paints a picture of their experiences and pinpoints areas of improvement. To get a better view, implement a structured approach to exit interviews to gather actionable insights.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Encourage honest feedback.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Assure employees that whatever is stated during the exit interview is purely confidential. Even if it hurts, their honesty provides first-hand experience into what\u2019s going on within your company.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Leverage technology.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Digital HR tools can also significantly enhance the efficiency and consistency of your offboarding process. HR software can automate various aspects of the process to guarantee each phase is handled smoothly and without oversight. The data technology helps track the effectiveness of your offboarding and identifies areas that need your attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, even if your offboarding is up-to-date and offers the best employee experience imaginable, not all reductions in force (RIF) go as planned.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"jump-link-four\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Prioritizing Employee Experience During Terminations<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some terminations are abrupt and involuntary, but you can\u2019t forget to prioritize the employee experience during these unsavory moments. Treating departing employees with respect and care is vital for their well-being and maintaining the morale and trust among those who remain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember that your other employees are watching how you treat the exiting employee and how you handle the termination. Their observations can significantly influence their perception of your company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A termination handled with fairness, respect, and transparency affirms that remaining employees are valued until the end. In addition, Hagen wants to remind us of our times: \u201cTerminations are the third rail now because people have access to disseminate information.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employees can flock to social media to share secrets and unsavory information that can negatively impact your company brand. Hagen shares an example of an Instagram post by a former Sephora employee who exposed some of the company\u2019s lesser-known policies, like allowing customers to bring perfume bottles back for a refill.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such incidents can damage your company\u2019s reputation and the trust you build with your customers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, how do we prevent incidents like this from happening?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In truth, we can\u2019t make everyone happy when it\u2019s time to part ways, but we can remember that there\u2019s a human on the other side of the table \u2014 a person who\u2019s about to lose their job, daily routine, and source of income.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We can\u2019t take this lightly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of focusing on prevention, let\u2019s concentrate on softening the landing for the departing employee.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How To Put Employee Experience At The Forefront<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parks encourages leaders to be mindful and deliberate when creating a termination experience. At her company, terminations are conducted on a Friday, a practice she finds beneficial for both the departing and remaining employees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parks says, \u201cWhy do we typically do this on a Friday? So that people who are losing their employment don\u2019t wake up the next morning and everyone they know is going to work and they\u2019re [&#8230;] lacking a support system in that moment.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The remaining employees also don\u2019t have to experience the awkwardness of the following day. This approach allows everyone to process what occurred and begin moving on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To help the exiting employee transition, as an employer, you can extend their medical insurance to the end of the month, preventing a sudden lapse in health coverage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hagen also points out, \u201cThe data really bears out that 58% of companies offer a severance package, which means [some employees] might leave a company with nothing.\u201d Providing severance speaks volumes about your company\u2019s values and leaves a positive impression on those who stay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By handling terminations with empathy and support, you can cultivate an improved employee experience that thrives in difficult times.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhancing The Overall Employee Experience<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Setting clear expectations, meeting multigenerational needs, continuously updating your offboarding process, and being mindful of the employee experience during terminations are often overlooked, but they offer opportunities for us to enhance the employee experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clear expectations align individual performance with organizational goals, preventing confusion and unnecessary stress. Tailoring benefits to suit different generational preferences enhances satisfaction and retention, while a thoughtful approach to resignations and terminations maintains organizational integrity and boosts employee morale.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By integrating these employee experience best practices, you can foster a supportive and inclusive work environment that encourages engagement, retention, and productivity. Let\u2019s embrace these opportunities to transform our workplaces and achieve lasting success.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On the surface, HR focuses on creating a positive workplace environment to attract and retain employees. However, dig a little deeper, and you\u2019ll see how multifaceted and nuanced the employee experience can be.\u00a0 As a reminder, the employee experience encompasses the entire employee lifecycle and directly impacts employee engagement, retention, and productivity. When you consider [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":4356,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-employee-management"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4351"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6974,"href":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4351\/revisions\/6974"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primepay.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}