Modern working conditions that improve the employee experience

Workspaces designed for the comfort of employees

The conditions in which employees work and evolve are becoming a priority for an increasing number of HR directors or HR managers in SMEs. Whether in terms of the general atmosphere, organization of workspaces or internal events, the company must be able to offer a pleasant and motivating experience and working environment to its employees.

No need for play slides and special events in every room like at Google! A simple break room away from the offices and the working environment remains a very popular initiative for employees allowing them to relax, discuss and forge extra-professional ties.

In order to vary the working environments, companies can offer different workspaces according to the needs of employees: co-working room, open-space, meeting room, individual offices… This layout breaks the monotony of a fixed, sometimes isolated office and allows employees to choose the workspace that motivates them the most.

Flexibility, the real DNA of “smart working”

Respect for work/life balance remains an important criterion for employees, which is why working conditions and hours tend to be increasingly flexible. Employers have understood that an employee’s work place and schedules had no impact on the quality of the work provided. On the contrary, an employee with a good balance is relieved of certain personal constraints: transport, children to drop off at school, urgent appointments…, allowing them to concentrate and focus more on their work while improving job satisfaction.

For more than a year and a half, the coronavirus crisis has pushed the entire company to gain flexibility, from a personal as well as a professional point of view. Working from home became in a few weeks a mandatory internal organization for all companies. It was necessary to adapt quickly to these new methods of work, collaboration and management of employees. Like large groups, SMEs have had to find a way to manage their human resources digitally and remotely, without access to documents and archives physically present on company premises. The majority of them therefore quickly adopted a flexible, digital and fast HR solution to manage all HR processes.

Smart Working allows you to enjoy an agile and modern corporate image, whether with employees, candidates or even customers. A precise and transparent definition of the company’s DNA seems to be an important step in disseminating an image consistent with the company’s positioning. By communicating openly about values, corporate culture and activities, SMEs allow candidates to identify with them and make them want to join it. The employer brand will be strengthened by the positive opinions of employees on online platforms or via their personal network.

Flexible working, a win-win strategy

Why offer more flexible working conditions to employees? What are the benefits?

Offering working conditions conducive to the personal and professional development of employees increases their performance and productivity. According to the 2017 study, working from home reduces transport stress and fatigue (for 87%) but also develops concentration and productivity for 84% of those surveyed. A less tired and less stressed employee is more focused on their tasks and missions and is therefore more productive.

If the benefits of working from home are numerous for the employee, they are just as significant for the company:

• Greater employee productivity, involvement and commitment.
• Reduction of sick leave and absenteeism: according to a study by the CGET, working from home makes it possible to reduce the rate of absenteeism of employees by 20%.
• A better image perceived from the inside (employees, managers) as well as from the outside (customers, candidates).
• Lower real estate costs: more employees working from home means smaller offices. According to Greenworking, the saving on office rents can reach 30%!

Avoiding public transport or traffic jams by car allows employees to free up time for extra-professional activities: practice of a sport, culture, outings… All these activities contribute to the well-being, personal development and balance of employees.

Smart working has many advantages to satisfy current employees, but also to satisfy new talents wishing to join the company. It also induces a practical approach to reflecting on the employee experience and the establishment of working conditions in line with the current era. The Human Resources function must have all the levers to support the transformation of the company, in particular through a complete and ready-to-use Cloud HR solution designed for SMEs such as ARAGO Ready for HR.