In 2021 and 2022, the workplace underwent a series of transformational changes. In 2023, as new trends and changes start to emerge, industry leaders will need to stay on top of the latest developments in employee sentiment and workplace experience. By keeping up with the latest trend, you can understand where the future of work is headed, and use that understanding to your advantage this year and beyond.
To keep decision-makers informed about major changes in employee attitudes, we recently partnered with employee sentiment research firm Leesman, an HqO company, to examine an expansive set of data on employee workplace preferences. In this blog, we’ll examine a couple of major takeaways from that data, which includes over 300,000 responses to Leesman’s surveys of office workers. To get access to the rest of this exclusive survey response data, download our 5 Things to Know About Workplace Experience in 2023 quick guide, or the 2023 State of Workplace Experience report.
1) Key Takeaway: Poor Workplace Connections are Hurting High-Performing Companies
To stay ahead in 2023, high-performing companies need high-performing workplaces and employees. But new data from HqO’s 2023 State of Workplace Experience report shows that poor workplace connections are hurting employee satisfaction and retention, driving up costs and weakening performance at a pivotal point in the market.
According to the report, an eye-opening 31% of employees do not think that their workplace currently contributes to a meaningful sense of community at work. This poses a serious problem for commercial real estate (CRE) companies and leaders in every industry, since low satisfaction and workplace connectivity have been shown to contribute to higher rates of turnover, and poorer business outcomes overall. In fact, according to McKinsey, a “non-inclusive, unwelcoming, and disconnected [workplace] community” was one of the top 10 reasons why employees left their jobs in 2022. As the economic picture continues to change in 2023, high-performing companies need to do all they can to recruit and retain the best available talent. This means that industry leaders will have to do more to build strong workplace experiences and connections with their end users.
But stronger workplace connections don’t just reduce turnover and related costs – MIT research found that stronger network connections lead to enhanced collaboration, productivity, and innovation across a network. That’s why it’s critical for leading organizations to do more to build community around the workplace.
2) Key Takeaway: Support for Employee Productivity is Critically Low
The pandemic and the Great Resignation led many organizations to enhance their workplaces to meet the needs of employees. But new research from Leesman, an HqO company, shows that support for one crucial metric (employee productivity) is now critically low: according to Leesman, 30% of employees do not think their workplace enables them to work productively.
Even as office space is used differently in 2023 and beyond, support for productive work is still one of the most critical functions of any office or workplace. That’s why CRE companies and industry leaders must act now to improve their chances of success in the coming years. When employees lack the necessary tools to be productive, the business performance of an organization inevitably suffers.
Improving productivity is never as easy or simple as flipping a switch. Different organizations have different needs, employees, and long-term goals. To give workers the support they need to be productive, today’s leading companies need access to real-time employee sentiment data that allows them to personalize their workplace to meet the needs of their organization. With the right information on employee needs and preferences, leaders can make improvements to the workplace that help their employees work more effectively and productively. To evaluate the effectiveness of your workplace environment, consider requesting a free Workplace Readiness Assessment from HqO.
To Build a Stronger Organization, Build a Better Workplace Experience
Gallup found improvements to workplace experience can increase productivity by up to 17%, and reduce turnover by up to 24%. In a challenging market, you need to make your workplace investments count. That’s why today’s leading companies need to do all they can to help improve their workplace experience.
To get access to the rest of this exclusive employee sentiment data, download the 5 Things to Know About Workplace Experience quick guide. And if you’re ready to see how HqO can help improve your workplace experience, request a demo today.
