The past year has seen several post-Covid workforce trends. The first was the ‘great resignation’, with around 20% of employees planning to leave their jobs in 2022. More recently, the topic of `quiet quitting` has been in the news – it’s a concept popularized on TikTok in which employees do their job but do not do it beyond what is asked of them.
In fact, ‘quiet quitting’ is no different from disengagement. Whereas disengagement is the result of an unhealthy work experience.
Look at yourself in the mirror
According to a recent Gallup-Workhuman survey, employee recognition goes a long way. Companies that recognize their employees as a priority are 56% less likely to seek new employment and 4 times more likely to be employers of choice.
If you are a business leader, your actions can influence employee engagement. Because engagement is driven by the work environment and its processes, it can only be affected by you.
The winning formula
The winning formula for getting involved and avoiding ‘quiet quitting’ is simple. Start by matching your employee’s skills to the job requirements, then clearly communicate your expectations and recognize a job well done.
Preparing to invest in the learning and development of your employees will have a direct impact on engagement. Not only through education and training, but also through constructive and regular feedback.
Organize frequent meetings while making the link between the work done by your employees and their added value to your company. Keep your employees engaged by giving them meaning in their work to achieve their goals.
When you make your employees feel useful and valued, you increase their desire to contribute to your success, because they understand the added value of their work.
Let’s be realistic. Telecommuting and hybrid working are here to stay. In fact, employees have had plenty of time to think about how much time they are willing to spend on travel and overtime. Bringing your employees back to the office to sit behind their computers like at home is not preparing you for a successful return. Notwithstanding the cost of gas and the rate of inflation.
The current trend is to work two days in the office and three days remotely. Therefore, business leaders must use different strategies to value the time spent in the office. The most interesting models are those that aim to recognize the work, take advantage of the face-to-face days, and make these meetings moments of collaboration and exchange. Some tech companies like Ubisoft organize wellness Wednesdays when they offer massages, haircuts, and juice bars to employees coming to the office. They also use these days to introduce new employees and recognize employees who go above and beyond in their work.
Choose comfort over a typical office environment. It is above all events and opportunities to see colleagues that will motivate and retain your employees.
As part of the work environment you want to create, it’s important to understand your employees’ concerns and consider the individual circumstances that make different types of work preferable for different people.
Deciding what to wear has become a stressor. Shaking hands, deciding to hug, and breathing the same air, have also become a stress factor. As a business leader, you need to be aware of these new realities in order to provide an environment that will accommodate these new sensitivities.
You hold the key to preventing the ‘quiet quitting’
As a business leader, you can alleviate concerns and create a workspace for employees to openly communicate their concerns, reminding them of the health and wellness resources available to them. All this with fun! Anything that can brighten their day is worth sharing.
You have the ability to prevent ‘quiet quitting’ from happening in your business. Adopt a supportive approach, create a positive work environment and recognize your employees.
The pendulum has shifted towards employees. There is fierce competition for talent and manpower. The cost of transportation becomes an obstacle for many employees. Creative solutions are now the key to successful business leaders.
