5 Ways to Drive Employee Experience

Employee experience is how a staff member feels about his or her workplace. If it sparks an emotional connection—not limited to the physical environment—it can profoundly influence the employee’s professional happiness. In JLL’s Workplace – powered by Human Experience survey, a global series looking at how workplace experience can help businesses thrive in the new world of work, roughly 70 percent of employees said that happiness at work is the best ingredient for a unique work experience.

This increased spotlight on employee experience stems from a growing focus on talent and on maximizing productivity. A University of Warwick study found that happy employees are 12 percent more productive, and are specifically more likely to work more creatively, effectively and collaboratively at work. They’re also most likely to show up at work healthy. So what can you do to enhance your employee experience?

1. Offer a variety of workplace options

Employees want a choice in where they work. There should be an area designated for collaboration and teamwork, space for contemplation, service desks, community-focused spaces, health-based environments, creative spaces, and controlled places for getting together.

2. Keep the workplace clean and safe

A clean workplace is also a significant driver of employee productivity, performance and well-being. Maintaining a clean workplace help keep staff safe, healthy and efficient.

3. Provide break rooms and basic services

Whether it’s a five-minute diversion that boosts focus, or a 17-minute coffee break that improves performance, mental downtime can increase productivity and replenish energy during demanding workdays. Break rooms should have natural light and view, nutritious food and beverages, a place to eat and relax zones.

4. Locate where your people want to be

Besides interior designs, layouts and amenities, the office location can also be a tool to drive satisfaction and productivity. By studying the demographics of your workforce, you will be able to identify the most desirable location for your office. Instead of measuring employee experience only within the office, organizations must also consider establishing their headquarters in a live-work-play environment.

5. Remember the little details

Enhancing employee experience doesn’t necessarily require major fit-outs and a huge amount of spending. Small details such as putting the stapler by the copy machine, providing water bottles in the conference room or having a microwave in the kitchen so that employees can easily warm up their food, go a long way to ensuring that employees are content and happy at work.

Employee experience is driven through engagement, empowerment and fulfillment. Under JLL’s Human Experience model, this is far more than just ensuring work-life balance—it also embodies company culture and values, as well as efforts to improve the internal and external perceptions towards the organization.

The future of the workplace is more human than ever. As times change, company leadership needs to tip the scales more toward experience and exceed expectations to attract and retain talent.