The Changing Landscape of Today’s Workplace Environment: 5 Things to Know About Your Staff

Have you noticed lately that the normal 9–to–5 is long gone? Have you felt it yourself, answering emails at 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., checking social media and responding to work texts when you should be having dinner with your family? In some states, this is a legal issue popping up in labor laws; in other states, it is simply a symptom showing what today’s workplace seems to demand from us all.

The long term impact this type of connectivity has on all of us is yet to be seen, but one thing is for sure – today’s workplace environment is evolving and it is changing how staff and employers alike are viewing the work that they do. Today’s employees are willing to go above and beyond in helping you grow your business, as long as you know a few things about them first.

People are constantly connected

The phone dings, a text or email comes through, a response is given. A benefit of today’s technology and connectivity is that a response can be given whenever it is convenient for the recipient (in case of email for example.) But, the drawback of today’s technology is that it is getting increasingly harder to keep work within working hours.

We all are on information overload and this added pressure of constantly being connected or having to respond 24/7 can create anxiety for today’s workers. If a good time for your schedule is to send an email at 10 p.m. while you are thinking of something, make it clear to your staff that you know their time is their time and an immediate response isn’t always needed.

People want to work for a greater purpose

The days of punching a clock for a paycheck are over. Today’s workers want to do work with meaning. If there is nothing seemingly ambitious or world-changing about what happens in your office from day to day, create a greater purpose for you and your staff to work for.

Brainstorm a vision or mission statement with your staff. What does it look like to provide stellar service to your customers, clients or patients? What keeps everyone motivated to do great work each day? Get started on a few ideas and once complete, post it where everyone on your staff can see. This helps to create a common, greater purpose that everyone can support day in and day out.

People want to know what they do makes a difference

With families, side businesses, hobbies and other skills, there are a number of other things that your employees could be doing at any given time rather than working. Yes, work provides a paycheck, but today’s employees see work as a choice, rather than an expectation. Because of this, workers today will gravitate towards employment where what they do makes a difference for someone else. A paycheck alone is not enough to create loyalty. Your staff needs to know that what they do makes a difference for someone else.

Many people enter the healthcare field to help others and make a difference. It’s just a natural part of it, so make sure that the work environment you are creating supports this. For example, if someone goes above and beyond in helping a client or patient, recognize them for that at a team meeting or send them a note or email to acknowledge what they’ve done. A little appreciation and gratitude, in addition to their paycheck, goes a long way.

People want to express their creativity in their own way and contribute

The great thing about a team is that everyone brings their own skillset, talents and contributions to the table. This can also be one of the most challenging things about managing your staff as well, because no two employees can be treated alike. In today’s workplace, employees want to be able to express their own special skillset in their own special ways.

Creating an environment where new ideas are welcome to be presented and implemented if they fit, will go a long way with your staff in today’s workplace and its changing landscape.

The final thing to know about your staff is that they will go above and beyond for you and your office or practice, if you implement or already implement some of the above ideas and practices.

What do you already do at your office to respond to the changing landscape in today’s workplace environment? Or, what do you plan to implement in the near future? We’d love to hear your ideas or comments below.