Why the Right Tech Is Essential to a Positive Workplace Experience

We’ve come a long way since the early days of the pandemic, navigating remote work and virtual conferences. We’ve experienced the Great Resignation, and some of us still find ourselves in the Great Reshuffle. And it won’t stop there. Company leaders have faced their fair share of making first-time decisions in response to new trends and circumstances. Leaders and employees can continue to expect challenges to unfold, and they can rely on technology to help them manage these unprecedented situations, just as we’ve integrated tech to help us with our personal lives.

For example, the desire to use technology that can make our lives easier doesn’t stop when we walk through the office doors or log in for work. This is where companies find themselves in the dark when it comes to listening to employees and meeting their needs. Studies show that businesses are unaware that using outdated technology can stunt their bottom line and have the same effect on their employees, causing their workforce to become frustrated and look elsewhere for opportunities. In a OnePoll surveyOpens a new window conducted on behalf of Paycom in January 2022 of 500 U.S. executives and HR professionals, 64% of leaders believed their companies’ digital transformation had accelerated in recent years. However, the December 2020 OnePoll survey of employees showed that 67% did not believe digital transformation was prioritized. Stats like these show that where leaders may see progress, employees have frustrations that, when left unchecked, may cause burnout or turnover.

Good Technology as Part of a Positive Employee Experience

In today’s workplace, it’s important to recognize the positive effects of updated, impactful technology. The December 2020 OnePoll studyOpens a new window discovered that nearly 70% of employees “would be willing to take a pay cut to have software and technology that’s twice as good as what they’re currently using.” This staggering statistic demonstrates that many employees are willing to go to great lengths to have a smoother, more user-friendly experience, even if it means less pay. Of course, no one is advocating pay cuts. But the polling data is a warning signal that many businesses should consider. It’s an opportunity to think about how important well-functioning technology is to employees and candidates. Technology should be embraced from recruitment through retirement to help retain the best talent. And by adopting better workplace tech, the benefits will impact multiple areas of the business and empower employees to work more efficiently without unnecessary frustrations.

See More: Why Leaders Must Harness IT’s Power in Hybrid Work Environments

Supporting Employees With Good Tech

A company that embraces good tech demonstrates it is not only aware of the digital reality around us but cares about helping employees have a positive work experience in an environment that makes lives easier. That sentiment is backed up by OnePoll survey data that shows the discrepancy between executives and employees and the desire for employees to have better tech. In other words, it’s well worth the work it takes for companies to explore the tech needs of their employees.

So what can businesses do to ensure their employees have the right tech at work? First, start with understanding your people’s pain points. Your company’s most valuable asset is its people, so ask for further insight to better understand how you can support your team. Listen to what they say, and pay special attention to their thoughts about the technology they use day to day. With over 25 years of experience in HR, I’ve found that listening to your employees is a practice that never gets old.

Second, be prepared to assess needs and act on employee feedback. Which tech solutions will make their lives easier and set employees up for success? Are teams expressing concern over how much time they’re spending on administrative tasks that could be automated? This year’s survey found that employees are missing more than three monthly deadlines due to HR-related technology mishaps, such as requesting time off, submitting expenses, and enrolling in benefits. Many of these moments should be positive experiences but turn negative because of outdated tech. The average employer uses 11 different HR tech systems, and you have the disconnect. 

There are various tech solutions available to explore once you’ve identified the problem, but finding the right one can help make life easier, shifting teams away from menial tasks and frustrations and allowing them to spend more time engaging in work. The elf-service tool helps create a more positive work experience because employees can review and approve their payroll before it’s processed, which decreases the risk of pay errors, and why wouldn’t they when they already manage PTO, expenses, and benefits — essentially everything that makes up payroll already? This empowers employees and helps build trust, transparency, and autonomy. It strengthens the company’s reputation as a strong workplace.

Finally, research, analyze and track the benefits of investing in good tech. Ernst & Young reportedOpens a new window in 2021 that the average cost of a single manual data entry made by an HR pro varies from $4.70 to as much as $19.77 and is likely to increase. By adopting automation software with built-in technology that estimates returns on investment, companies can see the cost savings and experience the efficiency of adopting the right tech. What quantitative and qualitative data can you use to back the case for adopting good workplace tech and track the success? When presenting the idea to the C-suite or trying to make a compelling case to your teams, present data, and analytics that drive the decision to use the right tech. After the technology is implemented, continue to listen to employees and track their progress with it. See how it positively impacts their workplace experience and the bottom line.

A New Mindset for a New Era

While HR and business leaders focus on benefits like health care and PTO, there’s a credible argument that workplace technology is just as important to the overall employee benefits package. With about 7 in 10 employees saying they’d take a pay cut for software and technology that’s twice as good as what they’re currently using, it’s clear that technology must be considered part of the entire employee experience. 

Embracing this mindset shift will help you navigate the next unprecedented moment. 

How do you think updated HR and payroll technology can benefit organizations? Share with us on FacebookOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , and LinkedInOpens a new window . We’d love to hear from you!

MORE ON PAYROLL

• Transforming HR With Off-Cycle Payroll Solutions in 2021
• How On-Demand Pay Improves Employee Well-Being
• 5 Ways Collaboration Can Solve the Challenges for HR and Payroll
• Top 3 Payroll Trends to Follow in 2020