Employee experience

Definition

The employee experience, also known as the collaborator experience, encompasses all the interactions an employee has with a company from the very first minutes of his or her arrival and throughout his or her career:

• The recruitment process, where candidates discover the organization and its culture through interviews and case studies.
• Onboarding, which enables employees to quickly acclimatize to their work environment and colleagues.
• Daily life in the office: relationships with employers and colleagues.
• The development of employees' skills to help them progress in optimum conditions.
• Career management support.
• Offboarding, when an employee leaves the company.

Employees are at the heart of this experience, and their commitment, satisfaction and performance are central to the employer's concerns.

The employee experience is often compared to the customer experience. Both concepts have the same objective: to encourage loyalty, on the part of both employees and customers/collaborators.

The importance of employee experience

Strengthening employee commitment

An employee who works under favourable conditions, feels listened to and enjoys good relations with his or her colleagues is more inclined to stay on the job. This satisfaction fosters involvement and encourages constructive contributions, which ultimately boosts productivity and company performance.

Reduce absenteeism and staff turnover

An employee who is dissatisfied with his or her working environment is likely to be absent more frequently, or to resign. High staff turnover can also deter future talent by suggesting potentially poor working conditions.

Attracting new employees

Candidates naturally seek to join companies that care about the well-being of their employees and enjoy a positive reputation. Employees, as ambassadors for the company, play a key role in this attractiveness.

Two tips for improving the employee experience

First: create a pleasant working environment. Employees are now looking for optimal conditions, including quality premises such as meeting rooms, relaxation areas and open spaces that reflect the company's culture.

Second: provide the right tools. Modern, well-equipped offices are not enough. Employees must have access to the best software, adapted to the management of their tasks, in order to work efficiently. This means the right IT equipment, personal messaging and tools for remote meetings as part of hybrid working.

To sum up

The employee experience encompasses all the interactions an employee may have throughout his or her time with a company. Companies need to develop strategies to optimize their employees' experiences, from job posting to offboarding. The employee experience is of great importance to companies, as it helps to improve employee engagement and employer brand.