It feels like waking from a long nap to realize a whole new professional world around us for most of
us! Not that we were not expecting any change after the long pandemic haul, but it is definitely a lot
different from what we had imagined. Like all changes, there are the good parts, and there are the
challenges of learning to adjust to the new ways. As for an employer, the focus on being employeecentric and meeting employee expectations has become more critical than ever before to retain good talent to succeed.
So, what are the top 3 most critical employee expectations now that we are here?
It’s all about Mental Health eventually!
Before we dive into our first and key expectation, let’s flashback to the work scenario during the
pandemic; what were the key issues leading to stress, burnout, and lower productivity across the
globe? According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace Report, employees’ stress levels were
already at a record high of 38% in 2019, increasing to 43% in 2020. In the US, 4 in 10 adults reported
anxiety and symptoms of depression. A poll from July 2020 saw many adults facing difficulty sleeping
(36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance use (12%), and worsening
chronic conditions (12%) due to worry and stress over the coronavirus effects like isolation, and job
loss. As per WHO, the estimated cost to the global economy due to the impact of depression and
anxiety today is approximately US$ 1 trillion per year in lost productivity.
So, it’s pretty evident that the employees primarily seek mental health and are bound to work for or
stay with employers who understand this significant need. Organizations promoting employee wellbeing and providing inclusive mental health policies in the workplace will become the most productive
and sought-after employers in the future.
The critical role of good co-worker relationships
As per Cigna’s Loneliness and Workplace Report released in 2020, 62% of US employees feel lonely.
Lonely workers are less productive, less engaged, and are likely to leave their jobs. Apart from a good
work-life balance, meaningful co-worker interactions and a feeling of belongingness are essential for
employees to stay connected, motivated, and productive. To help preserve good relationships,
employers need to focus more on team-building activities, team lunches, and meet-ups and
sponsoring other social activities that encourage co-workers to interact outside of work to support
workplace relationship-building further.
Workplace experience
“Providing a great workplace experience means optimizing the variety and character of spaces that
people can choose from during the day, and empowering them to make choices that optimize their
individual performance.” – Gallup.
While a flexible/hybrid working style is the new way to do it, employees still look forward to a
functional yet excellent workplace experience! Organizations should also focus on creating physical
environments that are aesthetically pleasing and focus on connecting employees to one another.
Employees require adequate intuitive technology supporting the needs of work-stations and meeting
rooms to keep things effortlessly rolling and simplified. Flexible seating, different work environments,
and stocked-up pantries are definitely at the top. Organizations may look at exploring the option of
setting up virtual offices to offer this much-needed and cherished agility of working style.
As we embark on this people-focused professional journey, the combined end goal in mind of
productivity, profitability, and innovation remains constant and is instead rooted stronger than ever
before. Now that the pandemic has brought this intriguing yet deserving course correction to the
nature of global employment, it is only wise that we recreate ourselves and our values to forge ahead
towards a more ethical, inclusive, human, and win-win work ecosystem.