The COVID-19 crisis has brought major changes to the work landscape: hybrid working, increased employee turnover, and a growing focus on employee happiness.
At Arteel, we help companies every day build a strong corporate culture. These companies do so because they recognize that happy employees are the key to positive business results.
But is this something reserved for only a certain type of company? Or does it really play out on a larger scale?
We decided to take a closer look at the numbers.
Employee Retention
It is said that companies are struggling more than ever to find new employees and keep their current staff satisfied. Google Trends data seems to confirm this.
After a strong peak at the beginning of the COVID crisis, employee retention appears to remain a topic that companies are increasingly focused on. In an effort to keep their employees satisfied, companies are actively searching for tips and solutions.
So far, this growth trend seems to continue.
Employee Experience
A topic closely linked to employee retention is employee experience: how do you, as an employer, ensure that working at your company is a positive experience for employees?
Here too, there has been a marked increase in interest, which has mainly accelerated after the COVID pandemic.
Companies seem to realize that they need to put their best foot forward to retain people and achieve strong results.
Work Stress
Strangely, work stress has remained a stable topic over the past five years. There is always (alarmingly) high interest in it, but it does not seem to be the main driver behind the trends mentioned above.
So, what is driving these trends?
The developments of recent years have made it increasingly clear that salary alone is not enough to retain employees, and that stress is not the only reason people leave their jobs.
There is more to it than that.
A crucial element is receiving recognition for the work you do. A sincere compliment from a colleague or a pat on the back during challenging times—often it is the small gestures that make the biggest difference.
Recognition is a basic human need, yet we sometimes seem to forget this. Appreciation for one another does not appear on a financial statement, after all.
Nevertheless, more and more HR and business leaders seem to recognize the importance of appreciation:
Social Recognition
Social recognition, or peer-to-peer recognition, is a topic that has gained increasing interest since 2020. It is defined as follows:
“Social recognition, or peer-to-peer recognition, is the act of employees empowering and acknowledging one another for great work.”
The realization is slowly dawning that work is more than just a way to earn money. We often spend more time with colleagues than with family and friends, so feeling appreciated for our contributions is crucial.
If this is not (sufficiently) the case, employees will start looking elsewhere. And in today’s labor market, the choice is easy for them.
Conclusion
For HR and business leaders, appreciation and connection are already high on the agenda. Google Trends data seems to further underline the importance of ‘soft HRM’.
One final golden tip from Nathalie Arteel: “Focus first on behavior and habits; the results will follow automatically.”
