We all know the basics of employee satisfaction. And sure, happier employees make for a pleasant work environment. But when we talk about how to improve employee experience we’re thinking about the entire employee lifecycle in all its complexity, from onboarding to exit.
(Plus, how those day-to-day experiences foster higher employee engagement, company profitability, retention, productivity, and customer satisfaction — but we’ll get there in a minute.)
So, think of the tips presented here as your cheat sheet for creating a positive employee experience. And these insights, drawn from more than 2,000 employee surveys, will help you strengthen the major areas of your program and create a business case for the employee experience.
Meet the 4 key areas of the employee experience
There are four key areas that make up your organization’s employee experience:- Connection: The bonds between an employee and their manager, coworkers, and your organization’s mission and values.
- Alignment: The employee's clear understanding of what they must do to succeed at their job.
- Appreciation: An employee's confidence that their work has value and they'll be recognized and rewarded for their contributions.
- Growth: Learning opportunities, continuous feedback, and ongoing support for career development.
By addressing each of these areas, you’ll ensure employees feel supported throughout their journey with your organization.
1. Communicate core values early and often, not just during onboarding
It’s important that employees internalize your organization’s core values, which requires regular and consistent communication. By displaying these values on bulletin boards, TV screens, social media, performance reviews, and HR newsletters, you reinforce their importance throughout the employee journey. Employees need to see how these values apply in their daily work, not just in their onboarding session. Bonus: Use a Recognition & Rewards platform that ties recognition to your core values.
2. Create opportunities for coworkers to connect
Strong relationships among coworkers are essential for fostering a sense of belonging and trust. Whether your team is in-person, remote, or hybrid, create spaces where employees can bond and connect. These connections improve collaboration and communication, which ultimately enhance teamwork and productivity.
3. Help new hires make great first impressions
Pair new employees with onboarding buddies to help them feel welcome and connected from day one. This personal connection helps them feel welcome from day one and builds a support system they can rely on. This can set the tone for a positive experience throughout their employment.
4. Encourage regular 1-on-1 sync-ups between employees and managers
Aim for at least weekly meetings to discuss progress and concerns. Sync-ups are a casual, less-structured opportunity to build personal connections, provide real-time feedback, give updates on goals, and discuss blockers. These meetings not only build trust and strengthen the bond between employee and manager, but also can help identify and resolve issues early, preventing larger challenges from arising later.
5. Get feedback with engagement surveys and act on the results
Use tools like our Surveys & Insights solution to gather actionable feedback and demonstrate that the organization is listening by making improvements based on employee input. Collecting and actioning on employee feedback through engagement surveys cultivates a speak-up culture and shows employees that their voices matter.
Bonus: Read our breakdown on How to Create a Speak-Up Culture at Work
6. Clearly align company vision, mission, and values with individual contributions
Again, strengthening the bond between employees and the overall organization is critical. Help them understand how their work directly contributes to the organization's broader goals.
7. Help people see the impact of their work
Encourage employees to recognize each other’s accomplishments and make recognition easier with a Recognition & Rewards solution. Share customer stories and case studies at all-hands meetings to illustrate the impact of their efforts on the organization and beyond.
8. Make recognition detailed and specific
Go beyond a simple thank-you. Recognition should be detailed enough that the recipient understands the value of their contribution even years later. Detailed recognition shows that you truly understand and appreciate the person's contributions.
Bonus: take a moment to use our free Digital Recognition Card tool to send appreciation to someone right now, using the SMT formula.
9. Share appreciation in the moment
Immediate praise is more effective than delayed recognition. Acknowledge achievements as they happen to boost motivation and morale, and show that you are paying attention and value their work. This immediate recognition can motivate employees to continue performing at a high level.
10. Make appreciation public
Amplify the impact of recognition by celebrating successes in front of the entire organization, creating a culture where wins are shared and valued. At WorkTango, for example, we use a public recognition feed to celebrate employee accomplishments across the organization.
11. Empower peers to recognize each other
Recognition shouldn’t just come from managers. Encourage employees to celebrate each other’s contributions to create a more connected and engaged workforce.
12. Explore unconventional growth opportunities
Growth doesn’t have to come from formal programs. Offer alternative learning opportunities like mentoring, lunch-and-learns, and meet-ups to facilitate employee development. These unconventional methods can provide meaningful growth experiences that help employees stay engaged and motivated.
13. Set clear goals on the employee, team, and company levels
Establishing clear, measurable goals at every level of the organization not only helps employees understand what’s expected but also helps them feel happier and healthier.
14. Raise awareness of learning and development opportunities
It’s not enough to simply offer learning and development programs — employees need to know about them. Promote these opportunities through newsletters, intranets, or office signage, and consider offering incentives for participation.
So there it is: The employee experience is no longer part of the distant future of work. That future has arrived, and companies taking note are reaping the rewards. WorkTango customers investing in employee experience report 50% higher retention, increases in program participation, higher Glassdoor scores, and more.
By focusing on core areas like connection, alignment, appreciation, and growth, companies create environments where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to thrive.
When employees feel a sense of belonging, understand how their work ties into the company’s mission, and are recognized for their contributions, their motivation and commitment grow. Investing in these areas leads to a stronger, more engaged workforce, ultimately driving better outcomes for the entire organization.
