Employers Need To Listen More in a Rapidly Changing Work Landscape: Dexian Study
The work landscape is quickly changing, especially due to rapid tech advancements and innovations. In such a scenario, Dexian conducted a study to understand what employees want, what employers are delivering, and a few key work trends this year. Check out a few insights here.
- The work landscape has been continuously changing over the last few years.
- In such a scenario, Dexian conducted a study to understand what employees want, what employers are delivering, and a few key work trends this year.
The work landscape has rapidly changed over the last few years, especially with technological advancements and innovations. In such a scenario, what do employees want, and what are employers delivering? Dexian recently surveyed 2,000 employees and 1,325 HR decision-makers to find a few work trends this year. The study uncovered a significant disconnect between what employees need and what companies are delivering across various factors, from recruitment to work arrangements, that reshape the workplace. The following are a few key insights from the study.
See more: Navigating the Three Circles of Employee Engagement
AI Is Disrupting the ‘Personal’ Process of Recruitment
Artificial intelligence (AI) may be considered the biggest disruptor of our time, as it is happening at a speed most companies worldwide are trying to keep up with. When it comes to recruitment, many leaders (60%) are struggling to understand when, where, and how AI should be deployed across the hiring process. Job search and recruitment are highly personal processes that mark the beginning of the employer-employee relationship.
The study found that 72% of employees believe companies rely too much on technology and AI in hiring, and that’s a problem. As AI gains more importance, companies need to balance its benefits and potential impact on candidate experience, engagement, and the ability to attract top talent.
Here are a few more key stats:
- Only 48% of employees agree that tech-enabled job searches will help them find the right job quicker.
- Only 24% of employees believe AI should be used in reviewing applications/resumes.
Employers Consider Cultural Fit the Least Important
Company values and a person’s cultural fit are key ingredients in a company and employee’s success. However, the study found that employers consider it the least important when hiring an employee. In fact, while over 62% of employees underwent skills assessments, only 43% underwent cultural or values assessments. Further, only 47% of employees said their employers measure employee sentiments regarding their success/failure in living the organization’s culture and values.
The study also found that only 50% of companies have built a value-based culture using employee surveys/data to determine what is important to them.
Considering the importance of company culture and how most employers treat it, teams and leaders should be held accountable for creating and living the organization’s cultures and values.
Work Preferences Are Changing, but Companies Aren’t Keeping Up
The last four years have shown employees’ changing preferences regarding their work arrangements. Yet, according to a recent WorkHuman survey, only 66% of employees believe their work arrangement is their preference. Dexian’s study further found that only 48% of organizations survey employees about their work arrangement preferences. And this is significantly costing companies. About 20% of employees who reported that their work arrangement is not their preference scored lower on every positive workplace outcome, including productivity, connection, and hope for career growth.
The study also found that about 32% of employees would consider changing jobs if their employer mandated them to return to the office.
Companies Should Upskill and Reskill Employees To Keep up With Changing Work Scenarios
The rapid pace of tech innovation is reshaping industries and redefining how people work. Digitalization, AI, and automation are transforming job roles, creating both opportunities and challenges for companies and employees. About 75% of employees agree that they should continuously reinvent themselves due to the rapid change of pace in their profession. About 49% found it difficult to progress in their careers due to rapid changes in the workplace. Furthermore, 59% said it is difficult to plan their future career due to continuously changing technologies.
A separate WalkMe study found that 41% of respondents used AI tools daily, and 84% thought the technology was becoming more critical to advancing one’s career. However, only 15% believed they were AI experts. Moreover, only 7% received extensive AI training. Importantly, 86% said they would more likely use AI if the tools proactively guided them in the workflow.
Similarly, a Celigo study found that while almost all respondents have implemented AI and are realizing early success, some experienced barriers to widespread, enterprise-wide adoption. According to 47% of respondents, the primary reason is a lack of understanding of what AI can do for the organization. Since most IT teams are overburdened and understaffed and do not have the resources or time to oversee organization-wide AI implementations, many are seeking ways to empower non-technical business users to create and manage their own AI solutions as long as they maintain proper governance.
All these mean that organizations can ensure their employees have the knowledge and skills necessary to leverage emerging tech to stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape by reskilling and upskilling their workforce.
An argument can be made that companies that develop an employer value proposition touting their focus on helping workers stay on top of changing technologies and upskilling them as required attain a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent.
See more: Achieving Social Sustainability through Workforce Modernization
The Key Takeaway
The study findings show that, in most cases, companies are either not asking their employees or not listening to their needs and requests. Employees are asking more of their employers, but employers aren’t answering the call to better understand the continuous shifts in employee experience in today’s environment, potentially proving harmful to the organization’s success. Hence, the time for organizations to cater to their employees’ requirements is now to ensure a competitive edge and a better employee experience.
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