Back to the office? 3 reasons real-time employee insights are a must

As organisations navigate the complexities of their employees spending more time back in the office, leveraging real-time employee insights has become essential.

Here's 3 compelling reasons why:

1. Create a workplace people want to return to

The most appealing workplaces make the commute worthwhile, but assumptions about what employees desire in this area can miss the mark.

By actively seeking and acting on employee feedback, organisations can ensure that whatever benefits, incentives or improvements are implemented, align with what employees truly value.

Know for sure if your people really want those enhanced end of trip facilities or fancy new break area.

In fact a study by the Fortune 500 company Prudential Financial found that employers who solicit and then implement employee feedback around their workplace benefits programs, for example, achieve double the satisfaction rates compared to those who don't.

This approach not only improves employee satisfaction but also boosts retention. When people see that their feedback is heard and leads to real changes, they feel valued and invested in their workplace.

A well-designed office environment, shaped by employee input, can foster a stronger sense of belonging, making the decision to come in each day a positive one rather than an obligation.

Moreover, gathering real-time insights helps organisations stay ahead of shifting employee expectations. Workplace preferences evolve, what motivated employees last quarter may not be what they value today.

So regular feedback loops ensure leaders can make timely adjustments, whether that means further tweaks to work arrangements, upgrading technology or enhancing those more social spaces.

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2. Change management

Resistance to change is natural, and mandating even a partial move away from the comforts of a home office and the flexibility that it brings can raise concerns among employees.

To what extent will that flexibility be reduced, working locations tracked or swipe card data analysed?

These apprehensions can then escalate if employees feel ignored or unheard during this change process.

So regularly gathering insights before, during and after a shift to more in-person working, helps leaders identify and address issues early, allay any fears, and ensure that concerns are managed proactively.

When employees feel included in conversations about workplace changes, they’re much more likely to embrace them.

Transparency about why changes are happening, combined with a clear response to employee concerns, fosters greater levels of trust.

If leaders only communicate their decisions without listening, frustration can build, leading to disengagement or even increased turnover.

Additionally, identifying patterns in employee sentiment allows leaders to pinpoint areas where support is needed most.

For example, that could be on a specific concern shared by everyone across the organisation, or within the data showing issues relevant to specific teams or departments.

At Teamgage, we've seen time and time again that this data-driven approach through change really works.

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3. Goal alignment

As more workplaces adopt a mix of remote, hybrid, and full-time in the office schedules, maintaining alignment across these dispersed employees becomes crucial.

Organisations that prioritise real-time insights and regular, open and honest communication will keep their teams working in harmony!

Real-time employee insights help keep everyone focused on shared goals, prompting continuous reflection and collaboration, regardless of where everyone is working that day.

Without these regular insights into how employees are feeling and working, misalignment can creep in, leading to greater levels of risks, communication breakdowns, duplicated efforts, or teams unknowingly pulling in different directions.

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So that's it!

Remember, engaging your employees during a shift back to more in-office working isn’t just a nice-to-have.

Real-time insights ensure you’re making decisions based on what truly matters to your people, not just assumptions, helping to create a workplace together that's worth commuting to!