The age of remote work has changed the game entirely. Spend an hour online, and you will inevitably hear phrases like “the great resignation” and “quiet quitting” used to describe the growing dissatisfaction among employees and employers alike. Businesses now have to place a much heavier emphasis on retaining and empowering talent, to ensure happy workers.
Is your workplace inspiring and connected? That’s the key question that many people find themselves asking at many points in their careers. Chances are, there are multiple people in your office working remotely. This has made it increasingly important to ensure that everyone feels valued and included, regardless of where they are working. Job unhappiness is at an all-time high in the era of remote work, according to Gallup, and the cure just might be found in business communication.
How do we Create Happier Workers?
Part of the solution to easing this dissatisfaction initially is obvious; more pay. A Robert Half study showed that 46% of employees believe they are underpaid. Higher wages are a crucial part of the equation, but they aren’t the entire solution. The other part lies in something that tends to fly under the radar; communication.
We spend hours every day talking to our co-workers. The interactions between coworkers and managers are what build relationships and ultimately craft the culture of a company.
And in the modern age, the water cooler won’t cut it.
Technological barriers like remote working and shoddy office equipment often create gaps between employees and managers. This can be a recipe for miscommunication and workers who aren’t happy. After all, you can’t expect employees to stay connected when their workplace technology isn’t.
This ease of access among an organization’s communication pays dividends in the long run. Employees provide better results if they feel engaged and connected within the office. Business units with engaged workers have been found to generate 23% higher profits, and a recent study found that employees perform tasks better when they feel valued and respected (2021).
Building a culture of open and fluid communication not only increases productivity but also creates happy workers and more investment in an organization. As a result, those employees stay committed to a company longer.
Where Do I Start?
Business leaders can be proactive by fostering an open environment where employees can remain connected and engaged with their co-workers. One of the best ways to achieve this is by equipping employees with the right tools to communicate quickly and effectively.
There are many incredible tools out there that are worth investing in–like a UCaaS–if you find yourself needing to bridge the communication gap and empower your employees to achieve the most of their potential. The rise in remote work has made the task of bridging that gap even more important. Tools like video with collaboration and integration across devices might be just the tools a business needs to help create a truly engaging workplace.
