4Cs Blog: Happy Employees = Happy Customers

The number of registered nurses (RNs) is expected to expand from 2.71 million in 2012 to 3.24 million in 2022, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. These new nurses will be from a younger generation with fairly different beliefs and expectations. So surveys for nurses over working practices will only be successful if the right questions are asked. To ask the right questions, there will need to be increased engagement between management and nursing staff. One way to do this is by using weekly or biweekly surveys to ask nurses short questions about workplace practices. You will also need to give them a chance to give feedback anonymously.

Recognition in the workplace

The first thing you should consider when surveying nurses is the kind of recognition you offer for exemplary behavior or work ethic. Formally or informally acknowledging a person’s or team’s behavior, effort or actions that benefit or support an organization, helps employees feel appreciated. In fact, 36% of employees say that the main reason why they leave their job is because of lack of recognition, according to a recent study by Achievers. So in your survey you should ask the nurses questions about what type of recognition they think is appropriate for them, and what type of actions or behavior should warrant recognition.

Getting a job at Google is a daunting goal. Harder to get into than Harvard, Google receives 3 million applications a year and hires 7,000, less than 1% of applicants get hired! Besides being a multi-national company, it also has the distinction of being one of the top four technology companies in the world. Google also continues to dominate as a Best Places to Work year after year. With almost 100,000 employees how do they do it? 

In The Internship (movie) actors Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn came face to face with what the film referred to as ‘Googliness’ that ‘thing’ that makes Google different than other company’s which begs for a clearer understanding of what that ‘thing’ is that makes Google so appealing.

Disability is a part of everyday life for millions of Americans. Despite progressive labor laws and a competitive market, just 3.2% of the workforce is disabled, according to USA Today. Furthermore, BLS statistics for 2017 suggest that just 18% of disabled people are employed, compared to 65% of non-disabled people. However, again according to USA Today, this is set to change amid low unemployment figures which is making worker retention difficult. Essentially, the market is encouraging employers to take on more disabled members of staff, and this will have an impact on the accessibility and quality of the work environment.

AI is already being implemented in businesses around the world, and while worries persist over whether robots will be taking over the workplace, some are predicting that it will actually improve and even create jobs in the future.

From devices in our homes to mobile apps, AI has already made its way into our daily lives. The workplace is no exception and AI has already helped businesses make better use of data and streamline processes. According to John Williams, Head of Marketing at Instant Offices here are a few AI trends you should be aware of for your business:

Artificial Intelligence on Big Data – Businesses are starting to use data to make decisions with the help of algorithms and real-time methods. AI assists with this by breaking down excessive data to help businesses make use of it. AI also uses machine learning and deep learning to improve predictive analytics, allowing businesses to offer customers exactly what they are looking for.

If you find HR department routinely experiences issues and is inefficient or you find it can't keep up with the changing company culture, you might want to start thinking about ways to re-outfit it and manage day-to-day operations. What are your processes and how can they be tweaked or changed? Or should you just throw out the baby with the bathwater and try a whole new approach? 

Although it's been around since the early 2000s, the agile methodology first became popular among software developers that wanted to bring products to market faster and more efficiently. Having an agile mindset when it comes to HR certainly has its benefits, allowing for improved performance and quicker and easier processes. 

Since agile methodology worked so well for these developers, business owners and other professionals jumped on the bandwagon and started using these principles and values as part of a general approach to project management. From there, it trickled down into other departments like human resources. 

So what exactly are agile innovation methods, and how do you know if they're right for you and your HR department? Let's take a look and then we'll discuss how best to implement one using a call center in the cloud. 

What is Agile Innovation?

Most savvy companies know that increasing employee satisfaction can lead to decreased levels of employee turnover, which costs companies $30.5 billion annually. While there are many ways to go about ensuring that your employees are happy - and continue to be happy - one of the most effective ways to engage them at work is to play to their interests. And, with more than half of the workforce set to be made up of Millennials and younger-aged employees by 2020, the way to win their hearts and play to their interests lies in providing them with the right technology.

Giving Them The Tools Needed For Success

January can be tough. A combination of debt, cold weather, time since Christmas, low motivation and failed New Year’s resolutions sees the most depressing day of the year fell on 21 January this year. And while we know Blue Monday is just a concept, finding the enthusiasm to power through work after a long holiday can make January seem particularly gloomy.

With more employees looking to climb the career ladder in 2019, manage work-life balance and increase happiness, Insightlink together with Instant Offices give eight simple ways on how to crush the career blues and start January off with some positive changes:

1. Ask for an Increase

If you’re committed to your job but need more to keep you motivated, it’s definitely time to stop stalling and ask for a raise. Don’t turn the conversation into an ultimatum – if you’re happy with your career but not the pay, make sure to communicate that clearly.

A productive modern workplace takes advantage of smart technologies to make workers’ jobs easier and more satisfying. A smart office also utilizes technology to automate daily routines and everyday tasks, so work flows smoothly and employees have more time for creative, constructive thinking. Whether you are setting up your workspace in a new office or have an existing business that’s looking to update to more modern times, consider the following ways to create the perfect smart office.

Choose Ergonomic Furniture

Today’s health-conscious workers are fully aware of the dangers of sitting at a desk all day, so consider bringing in convertible desks that go back and forth between standing and sitting, as well as chairs that accommodate different postures and tasks. Studies have shown that standing desks can improve mood and energy levels, reduce back pain, boost productivity and reduce absenteeism, and may even lower workers’ risk of weight gain. And without the distractions of discomfort and pain, employees can connect more fully with their co-workers and the tasks at hand, creating greater engagement and satisfaction on the job.

Recruiters are at a uniquely privileged time when it comes to finding the right person for the job, and the reason is the relatively new form of interviewing candidates, which is based solely on competencies and skills. In the past, job interview questions sought to elicit a general picture of the person’s strengths and weaknesses, typically delving into past responsibilities. These days, skills-based interviews allow us to go beyond the basics, honing in on precise skills already demonstrated by candidates in past jobs or in their academic life. Skills-based job interviews work because they are objective and predictive. They essentially bring a candidate to a specific time in the past in which they demonstrated core competencies such as teamwork, conflict resolution, goal achievement, and so on.

Virtual Reality is the simulated experience of exploring virtual worlds in 360 degrees, and the technology has recently taken the gaming industry by storm. Augmented Reality technology is the combination of the real world and the virtual in one perspective, and is also featuring prominently in new games. Both technologies now form under the umbrella term Extended Reality (XR), and are actually being used by many companies across a multitude of industries. XR can be very useful to businesses, particularly within human resources, as the technologies can help improve staff happiness. Here’s how:

Onboarding
Extended Reality is already being used by many businesses to facilitate the process of onboarding employees when they first start. At present, 63% use, or plan to use, XR for training and simulation, as companies have learnt that the technology is able to prepare new recruitments far more effectively than traditional methods. The gamification of virtual and mixed realities provides a multi-sensory experience which is sure to increase the attention span and memory retention of first-time users. New employees can find great confidence in training with XR, especially when it comes to high-pressure or dangerous jobs that require a meticulous approach. In turn, this immersive training allows staff to be more comfortable when implementing their training to their everyday role.

About

Recent Posts

Favorite Links