Figuring Out What Employees Expect in 2023

2023 finds employers in the midst of what many are calling the “Great Reflection” with record-high turnover rates, record-low unemployment rates, and increasingly demanding employees with high expectations.

We don’t foresee the hardships surrounding recruiting and retention going away any time soon – if ever. Employers need to start evaluating and adapting their strategy and placing greater focus on the employee experience in order to remain competitive in the labor market.

Every organization needs a strategy unique to their business, workforce culture, and goals. Consider some of the most popular employee experience expectations of 2023 as you start to evaluate your strategy moving forward:

More Empathy and Flexibility

Employees place a high value on work-life balance and want employers to have expectations that align with a realistic work load. They’re no longer tolerant of demanding schedules for little reward, or employers who aren’t understanding of what might be going on in their lives outside of work.

Demonstrating empathy and flexibility will go a long way in retaining your workforce, and doing so is easier than you think… here are some quick ideas to get you started:

• Eliminate penalties for the occasional tardiness or need to leave early
• Stop requiring a doctor’s note if an employee is sick
• Have managers stop by to check in “just because” rather than to check off a task

If you need to make a huge culture shift, consider:

• Providing the occasional company-wide “mental health” day
• Catering a breakfast or lunch, just to show appreciation for your team
• Creating a flexible schedule plan

Competitive Pay Rates

Compensation remains a hot topic, with candidates expecting higher wages thanks to discussion about raising the minimum wage, inflation, and a highly competitive talent market. Setting competitive pay rates based on your industry and market will give your company an edge when it comes to recruiting.

Wages aren’t everything, but they’re certainly one of the most important considerations for candidates deciding whether to accept a job offer or not.

Scheduling

Employees expect transparency and options when it comes to their schedules… they want to know you understand they have a life outside of work. Working from home and flex scheduling may not make sense for your business, but could you offer multiple shift options with varying start times? Or maybe you have to maintain a schedule, but it’s a set schedule so employees know what to expect and can plan around it.

If you’re willing to work with your team and accommodate their needs, or listen to a candidate’s needs and offer different options that might work for them, you’ll more easily recruit and retain your workforce.

Employees want to be thought of as people, not as cogs in your machine, and have found themselves in a position to demand more of employers. Put yourself in candidates’ shoes and think about what would be most important to you as you evaluate and update your recruiting and retention strategy to remain competitive in 2023.