As businesses across the country look for ways to engage and retain top employees, the topic of workplace experience is increasingly foregrounded. C-suite executives look to workplace experience as an invaluable way to build robust teams; indeed, while employee compensation remains an important factor, employee surveys continue to suggest employee engagement as a major factor in acquiring and retaining the best people. In the war for talent, one way companies can remain competitive is to offer their people a great experience in the workplace.
This is an area where facilities teams, in particular, can make a positive impact on their organization, contributing to long-term success. But what is workplace experience, exactly? And how can facilities teams make the most of this important opportunity?
What is Workplace Experience?
Simply put, workplace experience describes a holistic approach to creating a high-performance environment for employees to do their work. Facilities teams can play a significant role in ensuring happy and productive workplaces, which is a significant factor in retaining employees. (Note: It has been estimated that the cost to replace an employee ranges between 50 to 60 percent of their annual salary, by no means a paltry amount. Employee retention is a real bottom-line concern for virtually all businesses.)
Highly responsive facilities teams enhance their co-workers’ experience and demonstrate that the organization has a real commitment to their people. In doing so, facilities teams can play a major role in reducing turnover rates, along with the associated expenses.
Aligning HR and Facilities Management
One of the key objectives for facilities management teams is to align their goals with the HR department, ensuring a harmonious and proactive approach toward improving workplace experience.
Both departments can make a significant contribution to overall workplace experience. These departments should present a coordinated effort, working toward the same goals, collecting and sharing feedback, and most importantly acting on the feedback they collect.
Navigating Changes
Additionally, facilities management teams can play a pivotal role in helping their organizations (along with their employees) navigate major changes to the workplace. This is a major challenge, as the very nature of workplace experience has changed dramatically in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. New trends include hoteling, hotdesking, telecommuting, and various work-from-home models, all of which present potential obstacles to facilities management.
Facilities management teams must be realistic about the perks and strengths of these models while also maintaining an exceptional experience for employees who do return to the traditional workplace setting.
Partnering with Suppliers
Finally, note that the suppliers that facilities teams choose to work with can have an outsized impact on workplace experience. Suppliers often act as an extension of the facilities staff, with suppliers’ front-line employees working directly with the on-site workforce. Friendly, responsive, and efficient service is critical.
Ensure suppliers who are aligned with organizational values and be proactive in measuring and reviewing core customer service metrics.
Working with Corovan for Improved Experience
For decades, Corovan has helped our corporate partners ensure a smooth workplace experience for their employees, particularly when it comes to relocation projects. We’d love to tell you more about our proven methods and next-gen technology, all designed to provide efficiency, precision, and ease. Learn more about partnering with Corovan by contacting us today.