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Why You Need to Train Employees for Future Tech

Why You Need to Train Employees for Future Tech

by | Nov 6, 2018 | Blog

Why you need to train employees for future tech. Upskilling helps them meet the rapidly developing technology that your company will inevitably implement.

Why You Need to Train Employees for Future Tech

Ninety percent of executives say they pay attention to employee needs when introducing new tech, but half of their employees disagree, according to new research by PwC. It matters because more than half of employees are going to need significant skills training by 2022, according to The World Economic Forum.

The good news is that employees are willing to spend up to two days per month on training to update their digital skills if their employer offered it. Effective, efficient training programs are going to be critical for companies that want to keep up with developing technology while retaining good people.

What drives employee’s interest in advancing digital skills? Almost 40 percent of employees are likely to adopt new tech if it helps them advance their careers or gain status, through promotion or other recognition. For more than 30 percent, it’s curiosity and the promise of better efficiency and teamwork that drives their interest in advancing digital skills.

Conversely, almost a third of employees prefer individual achievement within a predictable environment. They like to stick to established routines, which means they’re least likely to see the importance of digital skills for their work. Additional communication and training might make this segment of employees more amenable to new tech.

What Employers Should Consider Before Adopting New Tech

Before adopting new tech employers should first consider what work is like for employees. Direct feedback from employees can pinpoint exactly where technology can improve the process. A range of employees from all levels and departments should play roles in the planning, selection and design of technology tools. Employee involvement makes them feel valued and can get them invested in the new tech so they’ll be less resistant when it’s rolled out.

“Enterprises aren’t so much falling behind as struggling to keep up with what’s next,” the report reads. “With companies’ near-continuous deployment of new applications, Intelligent Robots Process Automation, and more, employees must quickly master sophisticated new skills, too. And the pressure on companies and individuals to keep up will only intensify: the rise of artificial intelligence will soon make even the most tech-savvy in the workforce look for ways to stay relevant.”

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Are Employees Who Work From Home Happier?

Are Employees Who Work From Home Happier?

by | Oct 23, 2018 | Blog

Are employees who work from home happier? Remote workers might have slightly higher job satisfaction, but their office-only counterparts are convinced those who work from home are far happier than they are.

Employees who work remotely or split time between home and the office are happier than their office-only counterparts, according to recent research by Porch. When it comes to matters like pay, growth opportunities and overall job satisfaction, remote and split-workers are more satisfied than those who work exclusively in the office.

Surprisingly, just a few percentage points separate remote, split and office-only workers when it comes to satisfaction with work-life balance, relationships with co-workers and family life. This runs counter to popular thought, like the notion that better relationships are developed with coworkers in-office or that split-workers have a significantly better work-life balance.

Office workers’ perceptions of remote employees are particularly interesting. Nearly 80 percent of office workers think that remote employees are happier than them. Office workers are split on whether remote employees are less, the same or more driven, hardworking and productive. Most employees agreed remote workers were as necessary or more necessary than office workers.

So, what’s so great about working from home? The top two perks of remote work, by a long shot, are having no commute and a more flexible schedule. Other perks include staying home with kids or pets, less supervision, fewer interruptions, better focus and no workplace drama. More than 60 percent of remote workers complete personal tasks on the clock. Nearly 80 percent of them have watched TV when working from home. Distractions aside, employees who work from home actually feel more productive than office-only employees.

There are some perks to working in the office that might be the reason why almost half of remote workers plan on going back to an office environment. More than half of those who work from home feel lonely during the day. Close to 40 percent of them miss being around other people. They also miss office camaraderie, free coffee and office parties or social events.

Split-workers seem to have the best of both worlds. They get to enjoy the camaraderie and free coffee that come with office work and the flexibility that comes with remote work. It might explain why split-workers feel more valued by their employers and are less likely to feel disconnected from coworkers.

Open Offices Are Trendy, But Are They Effective?

Open Offices Are Trendy, But Are They Effective?

by | Jul 17, 2018 | Blog

In the Best Money Moves Roundup, we run down the latest news on open offices, paid leave, and keeping employees engaged during summer.

Supposedly, open offices improve communication and collaboration.  However, a recent study published by The Royal Society indicates that the open office may be doing the exact opposite.

According to the study, face-to-face communication takes a 70 percent dive in open offices. Instead of fostering collective energy the study found that “open architecture appeared to trigger a natural human response to withdraw from officemates and interact instead over email and IM.”

The research also found that productivity declined after eliminating spatial boundaries. Considering 70 percent of Americans work in open offices, this is an issue companies are going to have to tackle in order to recoup possible productivity losses.

See more on effects of open offices and what you can do about it here. 

What we’re reading: 

What paid leave program works best for you? Paid absence policies are valuable to employers and employees, but they require a balance to make sure it’s beneficial for both sides. Ask yourself these 3 questions.

Help avoid the summertime slump. Summertime weather and activities mean there are a million things your employees would rather be doing than work. Use these tips to keep employees happy during summer.

“Ghosting” at work. The term “ghosting” that Millennials traditionally apply to relationships is also relevant to work. Learn more about new hires ghosting and the challenges facing HR.

Navigate the many options for employee well-being. There are endless employee benefits and with low unemployment you want to make sure you select the right one’s for your staff. Here are 4 tips to help build an effective wellness program.

Get ahead of termination. Problems that eventually result in termination can be prevented. Given the costs of turnover, it’s advantageous to try. See if any of these 11 strategies to prevent problems resulting in termination can help.

Amazon’s unconventional “Pivot” program. Underperforming employees can have a courtroom-style video conference with a jury of peers to make evaluations more fair and communicative. So why are some employees are protesting it?

Custom medical plans. Each employee has different healthcare needs and some new companies are offering the ability to customize their medical plans. How this trend is developing and its implications.

Have something to add? Email info@bestmoneymoves.com.

The Truth is Open Offices Aren’t Really Collaborative

The Truth is Open Offices Aren’t Really Collaborative

by | Jul 17, 2018 | Blog

Open offices should encourage collaboration between employees. But the truth is they aren’t really collaborative after all.

Supposedly, having an open workspace improves communication and collaboration. However, a recent study published by The Royal Society indicates that the open office may be doing the exact opposite.

According to the study, face-to-face communication takes a 70 percent dive in open offices. Instead of fostering collective energy the study found the opposite. “Open architecture appeared to trigger a natural human response to withdraw from officemates and interact instead over email and IM.”

Do You Work in an Open Workplace?

The research also found that productivity declined after eliminating spatial boundaries. Considering 70 percent of Americans work in open offices, this is an issue companies are going to have to tackle in order to recoup possible productivity losses.

Lower Job Satisfaction Reported in Open Offices

A study published in SAGE Journals found that employees are irritated most by the sound of conversations, ringing phones and machines in the office. Noises like these are unavoidable in most open offices. They hinder productivity and are frustrating for employees who can’t tune out unless they isolate themselves further by listening to headphones.

Another study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health found that employees who work in open offices take an average of 62 percent more sick days versus other layouts. This is because viruses and bacteria spread more easily. But it could also be because the lack of privacy in open offices is stressful and stress makes sickness more likely.

Designing Around the Open Office Challenge

Although there are a number of challenges with open offices, they can be done right. Harvard Business Review determined what makes certain floorplans successful. They found that employees are more likely to respond positively to an open office layout when an employer conveys the vision for the space beforehand, is enthusiastic about the transition and encourages employees to adapt the space to their needs. The report notes, “When leaders encouraged adaptation and teams felt comfortable claiming the space as their own, they reported more place identity and generally felt better about the objective features of the space, like privacy, noise, and lighting.”

Work With Your Employees To Improve Open Offices

Communicate changes in office layouts, be enthusiastic about the space and allow flexibility so employees can make their office space more comfortable. While open floorplans have drawbacks, it’s still possible to create an environment tailored to the needs of your employees. Take back productivity, job satisfaction, and reduce absenteeism by making your office space work.

Read more about office environments:

Top 10 Workplace Etiquette Rules for Communication

Here’s the Ticket to Employee Satisfaction

Here’s the Ticket to Employee Satisfaction

by | Jun 26, 2018 | Blog

In the Best Money Moves Roundup, we run down the latest news on job satisfaction, communication, compensation and retention.

Believe it or not, respect drives job satisfaction more than compensation. Results from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)’s survey show that it was close, but respect beat salary by 4 percent points when it comes to  job satisfaction.

Alarmingly, only 38 percent of employees are satisfied with how their company treats employees. To improve employee relations SHRM recommends a number of training programs.

Read more here.

What we’re reading:

Build employee emotional resilience. Put SHRM’s advice to practice and enhance health and wellbeing in the workplace. Try it out with these 10 tips.

Highlights from SHRM’s annual conference. It’s alright if you couldn’t make the conference this year. Check out EBN’s top 10 takeaways.

Benefit from offering above-average salaries. Offering pay higher than the industry average is a business strategy that can pay off. Here’s 7 reasons why it works.

Be proactive about retention. Job jumping is a part of the dynamic shift underway in the workplace. Use these 3 strategies to improve employee retention.

Better communication can combat turnover. Build meaningful relationships with your staff sooner rather than later. Find out why it’s so important.

Craft high-performance teams. Give them a clear company image and room for failure to start building engagement for higher productivity and retention. Learn more about all 7 approaches.

Why do new hires leave within 90 days? A candidate that leaves within 90 days might be a bad hire, but more often the relationship is salvageable if you understand employee needs. Improve your onboarding process.

Have something to add? Email info@bestmoneymoves.com.