The global happenings of the past couple of years have endowed employee-employer relationships and work cultures in organizations with new dimensions. Consequently, the outlooks and priorities of both employees and employers have evolved.
Today, the young Indian workforce, comprising Gen Z and millennials, seeks to work with organizations that offer flexibility and growth, believe in the same values as they do, have a strong culture of inclusion and diversity, and care for their physical and mental well-being. Companies, on their part, have had to rejig their priorities, to achieve a balance between employee needs and business goals. There are several ways in which this will manifest.
Creating employee experiences
Employee experience is the sum total of everything that an employee experiences at work, covering a gamut of aspects including growth opportunities, inclusion, and belongingness. This is because the younger generations, by and large, have a different worldview and career outlook compared to their predecessors. They also have a comparatively wider set of career options to choose from and are more willing to make career shifts in line with their beliefs and priorities.
Using digital tools to improve HR processes
The employee experiences that organizations create must necessarily include digital elements. Flexibility should be offered in terms of how they work, what time they work, and where they work. Since lines between personal and work time have blurred in the past couple of years, a hybrid work setup should enable an environment, wherein people can complete their daily tasks without impacting their work.
People-centric policies
As we move into 2023 and beyond, industry-leading organizations will look to cultivate a people-first culture rooted in trust. We are seeing more and more companies put people at the center of their employee value proposition. These are good practices and must be persisted with. Doing so will instill trust, positivity, belongingness, and clarity of purpose among employees, and improve the overall levels of productivity, retention, and morale.
Nurturing diversity, inclusion, and equity
There is a strong and growing focus on building a culture of diversity and inclusion (D&I) and equity in workplaces. A diverse workforce enables organizations to tap into a much larger talent pool, bring different experiences and perspectives together, and catalyze greater innovation and collaboration. It has been observed that workplaces that promote D&I tend to have lower attrition rates. Millennial and Gen Z professionals prefer working with companies that promote D&I and equity.
Focusing on learning and development
The scope for professional growth and learning is one of the critical factors that determine their affinity towards a company, thus compelling organizations to focus on learning and development (L&D). Organizations, on their part, see value in empowering employees and grooming them for bigger roles in the future, which is why they will have to incorporate these aspects into their programs.
Caring for employees
Showing genuine empathy for the difficulties and needs of co-workers and subordinates is very important, especially considering the uncertain times we live in. It is important that employees should feel wanted, connected, and motivated. When employees know that their organization values their presence and cares about them not just as professionals but also as fellow beings, they automatically become more responsible, productive, and motivated, which in turn leads to better business outcomes.
Giving everyone the opportunity to have a say
Irrespective of their background or expertise – in decision-making processes and giving everyone the opportunity to express their opinion without fear of judgment or retaliation is key. While the responsibility of taking the final decision, of course, lies with the leaders, encouraging a free flow of ideas enables transparency and fosters a sense of togetherness and belonging.
Community Manager.