With the worker shortage, we need to think about what employees want…

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

We have learned a lot in the last year around what employees want especially in light of the new working from home arrangements that have been put in place sine the pandemic. In many cases, people are finding it harder to leave their homes and come back to the office.

We are also seeing a shortage of workers across the country so it is more important than ever to keep employees happy. But how do we do it?

I have been talking to various people across many industries and have asked them what makes them happy at work. Here’s is what I have heard-

1. People love working from home This is no surprise. We have found so many advantages to working from home. We can wake up later, get online earlier and just be more productive. When you add in your commute, we are saving so much time without it. Sure we miss seeing people in person so the hybrid way makes a lot of sense. You are able to get the best of both worlds. I have found at home that I do have a life outside of work and it’s amazing!

2. People want empathy Mental health is so important. So many people have experienced stress and anxiety and it’s time our employers recognize that it doesn’t make you a bad employee. Focusing are people’s mental health will only make your employees happier and more productive.

3. People want coaching and mentoring I know for myself I want more coaching and mentoring. I don’t mind hearing about my development areas, but it also helps to get some guidance on what you need to do to develop the skills. Speaking to a person outside of your direct manager is sometimes the best option to get that direct feedback.

4. People want exposure and autonomy It is really frustrating when your boss is monitoring everything you do and continues to tell you what to do at every step. It stops employees from being able to take the lead on initiatives and to make decisions on their own. If managers don’t give employees the chance to fail, they will never learn.

5. People want an inclusive environment This is across the board no matter what race, color, religion, sexual orientation, etc. people want to feel like they belong in the organization and what they do is valued. This can sometimes be just saying hello to a colleague and not walking down the hall ignoring them because you don’t think they are worthy to work with you. Talk is cheap. You can say you are a diverse and inclusive organization, but you need to put your money where your month is. Show people how you are inclusive by not only recognizing good behavior, but by stopping bad behavior.

Not having these things in the workplace are some of the top reasons why employees leave their jobs. They want to feel passionate about what they do and also feel like they belong. It’s starts with the culture and creating one that makes people feel good about going to work each day.

If you work in an organization that needs to change their culture, use your voice and let people know that this needs to change. No matter if you are a manager or individual, every voice matters and you can help bring about change.

Here’s to you success!

Best,

Rene