Staff empowerment ‘key for 2020’

One in five in 5 employers regard creating an employee value proposition (EVP) as their top priority in the workplace in 2020, according to a research project into employee experience.

The research found that 64 per cent of HR and employee experience do not currently have a clearly articulated EVP, but see it as a priority for the year ahead.

Having surveyed hundreds of HR and Internal Communications experts, the report, commissioned by the Bristol-based internal communications agency Home identified several key “people” trends set to impact our working lives over the next five years:

Fifty-four per cent of organisations are focusing on an improved on-boarding experience.

Forty three per cent are focusing on improving performance management.
Forty per cent are striving to foster environments of improved diversity and inclusion with a big focus on LGBTQ+, BAME, and people with disabilities.

Thirty-four per cent are focusing on improving communications between senior management and employees.

The report, Roundel 2020 is a piece of global research aimed at understanding trends, practices and priority areas from the perspective of the employee experience with top findings include emphasis around on-boarding, performance management, diversity and inclusion and, health and well-being.

The findings come amid the rise of a new era of HR where businesses are increasingly adopting a bottom-up approach to management, creating new strategies for employee retention, and putting employee well-being at the centre of decision making.

2020 is about breaking down internal communication silos, promoting an integrated approach to work within organisations, empowering employees to focus on personal development whilst finding purpose in their work.

One of the contributors, Martin Fitzpatrick, Senior Internal Communications Business Partner said: “Creating truly better places to work will require us to work collaboratively across our businesses. It seems that finally, we’re all waking up to the fact that providing people with a meaningful connection to work has far more impact than shiny newsletters, free gyms or new e-learning platforms.”

A spokesman for Home said, “It’s been such an incredible experience pulling this report together, speaking and hearing from so many passionate people from all over the globe that care about what they do and how they do it has been overwhelmingly inspiring!

“We believe the Roundel gives great insight into the trends, challenges, and priorities businesses face going into 2020, it’s a must for anyone that cares about their business and the employee experience. The Roundel is written by people who care, for people who care.”