As technology continues to grow by leaps and bounds and integrates itself into our daily lives, it’s not surprising that employee happiness is closely linked with technology. In fact, employees have confessed that they would switch jobs for better technology. Many employees also prefer to use their own devices on the job instead of struggling with slower and less convenient technology in the workplace. And it’s not just Millennials that have high standards for workplace technology. Even older generations of employees expect a certain standard of technology at work. Here are some ways that technology influences employee happiness.
Employees expect excellence when it comes to technology in the workplace. Employees want the technology that they interact with and rely on every day at work to be at least as good as the technology they use as consumers. Strict technology guidelines are no longer seen as acceptable in the workplace by some employees. Employee happiness now includes having the ability to choose what technology they use while at work. Flexibility is a huge advantage of technology that employees love. Technology enables employees to do their jobs outside of the physical workplace and avoid the unpleasant aspects of work like traffic and long commutes.
Technology is such an important aspect of employee happiness because it allows employees to perform their jobs more efficiently and in a variety of ways. Many employees favor the ability to work remotely so much that they are willing to sacrifice other aspects of their job. New employees entering the workforce as well as current employees have specific expectations for employers as far as technology in the workplace, including greater connectivity and more usage of mobile technology.
While it’s not surprising that younger worker attribute their employee happiness to technology in the workplace, workers across all generations highly value technology at work. Employees from all four generations expect the software they encounter at work to perform just like their consumer-grade software when it comes to speed, efficiency, and ease of use. Although younger generations were raised in a time of constant technological advancement, employees of older generations have learned to master and come to expect top-notch technology in all facets of life, including at work.
All this might make it sound like the ultimate key to employee happiness is technology. While it certainly is an important component, it’s not the only factor that is needed to create a positive and efficient workplace environment. The latest and greatest technology won’t magically turn your employees into happier, more productive workers, but it will certainly help. Employees truly hate bad technology because it can hinder their job performance, leading to frustration and decreased efficiency. If some of your workplace technology is out of date, slow, malfunctioning, or missing entirely, consider investing in some upgrades and updates. By investing in better technology you’ll also be investing in employee happiness and increasing the likelihood that they will stick around for the long haul.