The most obvious one is that employees arent able to do their jobs as well as they would like, but it goes deeper than this. Almost a year into the COVID-19 crisis, employees are still crying out for more support. Employee reward and recognition are at the heart of impactful employee engagement strategies and high levels of retention. 10 Challenges Faced by Employees in The Workplace and How HR Can Digital Employee Experience Management (DEEM): The Art of the Chef. And while you work on implementing these strategies, an employee communication app can be a huge asset. The employment situation September 2020, US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2020, bls.gov. The data showed quite clearly that LGBTQ+ employees across geographies are struggling with work in a pandemic world. Preparing for these challenges and learning tips and strategies to overcome them can help you reach your career goals. Amidst the economic disruption being faced due to the COVID-19 outbreak, businesses that can still operate are being challenged with how best to ensure business continuity. Decreased performance levels Employees may experience periods of time where they are not as productive as usual. One in four (26%) employees say it is likely they will change jobs . The Management Empowerment Report reveals that just one-third of front-line managers received specific training to support employees. 2. A significant impact of an aging population3. For example, you might be doing everything through email, when instead, what you need is something more instant like Slack. National Counselling & Psychotherapy Conference. Research shows the majority of employees (75%) care about the performance of their employer, but only 23% feel they have insight into how well the business operates. Hiring premier talent. ), 33 Scary facts Exhibit 4. Employees suffer from outdated education systems18. Difficulties related to COVID-19 are unlikely to be resolved soon. What are the biggest employee training challenges organizations face? Dealing with coworkers (26%)4. Work-life balance starts with culture. The top 10 struggles employees are facing at work are:1. Challenges faced by HR Managers during covid times - LinkedIn Communication (or Lack Thereof) Navigating different communication styles and the prioritization of. Investing in employee well-being is a fundamental long-term strategy for building resilience. Here are 10 HR challenges and how to resolve each: 1. Still, nine out of ten executives we surveyed report challenges in executing their DEI strategies. No one stealing your lunch from the office fridge. The lack of an effective communication style or standards in the workplace may hamper the team's efficiency and impact the level of productivity of the employees. Here are four, with tips on how to address them. Our survey found that employees across countries expect businesses to have an external voice on DEIranging from committing to community and philanthropic endeavors to engaging with suppliers. Make sure workers are being kept in the loop about small or large matters concerning the organization. The workforce is shrinkingexcept for 55-plus workers4. This is a result of clients and employees not having a mutual understanding. Yet they are often ill-equipped to engage their teams. If you have any unique challenges at work examples, please comment below. Its precise impact will depend on a variety of factors, such as the mix and importance of different functions, as well as the scale of an industry's revenue (Exhibit 4). With transparency comes openness, honesty, and a true shift in how you, as a leader, communicate every day with those you interact with in your work environment. For example, in India, Brazil, and China, 75 to 90 percent of respondents cite workplace health and safety and mental health as challenges in the COVID-19 context, compared with 50 to 60 percent of those in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Among all workers, those in emerging economies cited markedly more challenges, and reported feeling them more acutely than those in developed economies. To understand and quantify the variations in employee experiences during the pandemicand how companies are and should be responding to those needsMcKinsey recently conducted global surveys with 1,122 executives and 2,656 employees across 11 countries. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Companies also understand that most employees have more responsibility than ever before, both through increased workloads and additional home responsibilities. 5 Common Problems Plaguing Remote Workers And What To Do About - Forbes They can be working nights, extra-long shifts, weekends, or be on the road. the guesswork out of finding in-demand, future-ready jobs and occupations, Co-Founder, CreateMyJob.org - A social enterprise for job creation. Ask yourself: Where does your company have an opportunity or obligation to extend its DEI objectives into the external ecosystem? Transparent, one-to-one meetings can help workers feel heard, along with anonymous question and answer sessions and employee feedback forms. Employees do not have enough money to retire on46. Discuss what criteria need to be met for raises, and help your staff plan their career trajectory. Whatever way it comes, employees usually have a challenge dealing with changes. There are different kinds of challenges faced by employees in the workplace that may affect their productivity. Only one in six diverse employees feels more supported during COVID-19 than they did before the crisis (the number is similar for employees overall as well). Their challenges extend beyond childcare and home schooling, with parents in countries with full school closures reporting higher challenges, for example with mental-health issues and increased workloads. See which admin tasks are taking the most time for both the admins and workers. On top of all, your team can effectively communicate with one another from a single platform. So with roughly 2% of the entire US workforce quitting on a monthly basis, you cant afford to ignore the employee engagement challenges in your company. Of the employee respondents, 22 percent of the sample were US-based and 7 percent were part-time employees. Reach out to the individual to set some time to discuss the issue in private. A great place to start is by asking what factors they find most motivating. The crisis is hitting emerging economies the hardest. What is the person's typical behavior? In this article, well explore some common workplace challenges and share ideas for how you can turn them into solutions. On top of that, 11.5 million workers left their jobs in the time period between April and June of 2021. "Managing the ongoing health crisis continued to challenge our colleagues and leaders in 2021," said Wechter. In majority-white countries, people of color (POC) are especially worried about workplace health and safety, as well as career progression and balancing responsibilities at home. Most have been chosen for the role because they were good workers, not because they were good managers. Companies need to be selective across this catalog, focusing on a few specific interventions that are relevant for this moment for their context, and then actually move the needle in their organization with disciplined execution. All employees are struggling during the COVID-19 crisis and report an array of challenges in their lives, particularly in the areas of mental and physical health, concerns around workload increases, fears of stalled growth and a lack of progress opportunities, and loss of connectivity and belonging with colleagues (Exhibit 1). Employees are not valued at work25. These are: How many procedures and rules should an employee follow to get basic tasks done in your workplace? We find that employers are well aware of the challenges facing employees, and that nearly all companies have implemented COVID-19-specific policies and programming to support workforces during this unprecedented time. Problems with Coworkers Slackers Slackers lower productivity. Our survey shows that employees do not feel these challenges are temporary. While some businesses need their employees to work a fixed schedule, there are many that dont. Finding dependable talent Hiring is a challenge for every manager. While we do occasionally compare responses from our employee survey with that of our employer survey, it is important to note that the two surveys were independently conducted and therefore may not encompass the same set of companies. Organizational Challenges: Definition, Examples and Tips Historical challenges for diverse groups have only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. Despite a softening economy globally, 'The Great Resignation' looks to continue. We focus here on impacts in the workforce(though some diverse populations may also be experiencing the health impacts of COVID-19 more acutely). Implement a tool that can automate common workflows. Hence certain HR practices need to be in place to help address these issues. Make sure that your feedback and praise are specific and genuine, focusing on the unique efforts demonstrated by your team. Particular pain points include concerns related to career progression (2.2 times as likely) and household responsibilities (2.1 times). We provide a dedicated budget accrued at $3,000 per worker per year. Acknowledging and celebrating achievements, both big and small, is essential for reinforcing a resilient mindset. Employees are trapped in the Rat Race of Life47. to increase your salary and income Your ultimate guide, How to Difficulty measuring employee engagement4. Lastly, dont be afraid to say no to extra projects or stretch assignments that you dont have the capacity for. Employees are being spied on by their employers34. They must effectively handle projects and manage tasks without any hurdles. HR can address these issues by effectively overseeing vital organizational components such as budgets, schedules, material acquisition, KPIs, etc. They are also more concerned than men about increased household responsibilitiessuggesting that the stress of the double shift continues to be a gendered issue around the world. Rethink flexibility and boundaries. If employees feel like their employers cant be trusted, or that theyre not trusted to do their job, then its a recipe for unhappiness. Here are four, with tips on how to address them. Despite this sobering data, leaders now have an opportunity to build a more equitable and inclusive workplace that will strengthen their organizations far beyond COVID-19. But if employees aren't at their best, they may not be able to produce the best work. Get creative and make the culture of encouragement and appreciation a central part of your organization. Dont worry; you are not alone. One way to get people to communicate and trust each other again is to encourage team-building activities. Challenges Faced by Employees with Disabilities amid the Return to In This post will help you understand what those barriers are, and what you can do about them. Employees are discriminated by automated screening37. In an ever-evolving business landscape, the ability to navigate uncertainty and bounce back from setbacks is a competitive advantage. Compared with straight and cisgender employees, LGBTQ+ respondents are 1.4 times as likely to cite acute challenges with fair performance reviews and workload increases and are struggling similarly with a loss of workplace connectivity and belonging. In factories and other similar establishments, for example, line managers form a pivotal link between frontline staff and senior leaders. PwC Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey 2023 I suggest leaders provide outlets for individuals to express their concerns and seek guidance, such as regular team meetings and anonymous feedback channels. By promoting teamwork, encouraging feedback, addressing negative attitudes, and asking about the biggest challenges at work, you can create a more harmonious environment. This allowed us to appropriately compare across different cohorts in a manner that controlled for country-specific dynamics. Its important to see training as an investment. This will help you establish a culture where employees feel safe and supported. Create a list of factors such as pay, time off, goals, and bonuses, and ask them to rank them in order of importance. Get the daily lowdown on Asia's top Human Resources stories. A study shows that a highly engaged workforce can reduce a companys turnover rate by 25 to 59%. According to the U.S. It is clear that diverse employees are bearing a disproportionate burden during the COVID-19 crisis. Graduates are debt-laden before working, For more information about the 62 challenges, go to https://allmoneymakingideas.com/problems-faced-by-employees-at-work/, 62 Problems and Challenges Faced by Working Women in India Adapting Strategies: a. Talent acquisition remains one of the highest-priority HR challenges in 2023 with nearly half (47%) of respondents in a recent HR Executive poll ranking hiring and retention as their top challenge. Workplace Challenges | Minnesota State CAREERwise So what are some common workplace challenges? Recruiting the wrong people. This is a better approach than just laying down the new rules. People have different opinions, and thats a great thing, but its how communication is handled that matters. Our survey shows that employees also expect the challenges we highlighted above to continue for months. Ask them what skills they think they need to work on. ), 132 Savvy ways HR can address these issues by effectively overseeing vital organizational components such as budgets, schedules, material acquisition, KPIs, etc. Failing to consider workers career progression will trigger the feeling that they are stuck in a dead-end job. However, our employee survey showed that 62 percent of respondents consider mental-health issues a challenge, with higher reporting among diverse groups (Exhibit 6). 6 Employee Engagement Challenges & Barriers + Solutions - Blink Diverse groupsincluding women, LGBTQ+ employees, people of color, but also working parentsare having the hardest time, both in the workplace and with balancing work and home life. You can still keep track of your employees time (if you feel its necessary), and you can give your staff greater responsibility for their schedules. Here are some common challenges faced by employees in the workplace and how to address them. Many employees may face different issues that may bring their enthusiasm down. certain tools can be used to, Effective HR can encourage employees' professional development by offering, Have more questions on how to address specific challenges faced by your employees, PEO benefits, or HR outsourcing? Setting and tracking clear aspirations (which only 50 percent of surveyed companies do) will also help to quantify progress even when there are competing attentions. From the sometimes overwhelming feeling of being overworked to the hidden stressors such as having to be "on" all day, it's not always easy for employees. Encourage self-care practices and provide resources for stress management techniques. Welfare entitlements constantly change58. Scheduling inflexibility can lead to higher stress levels, and affect your workers ability to do their best work. Among diverse groups, these concerns were both higher in number and felt with greater urgency. Social Security and pension funds are running out of money 6. In India, women report a 30 percent increase in household responsibilities.4Roopa Purushothaman, et al., Opening with care, Hindustan Times, June 19, 2020, hindustantimes.com. In contrast, employers that encourage workers to learn new skills dont just retain them longer, but also stand to gain from the new insights employees bring to the table. Reskilling & upskilling for a digital workplace Complex enterprise software Adapting to remote learning Ineffective and outdated training methods Lack of employee feedback on training Measuring ROI of training programs Scaling personalized training & development Acute challenges are those where respondents described the challenge as being "significant" (other options included "somewhat," "not a challenge," and "not applicable"). The top 10 struggles employees are facing at work are: 1. Dealing with managers (23%)6. 2This category is primarily relevant for parents, and hence has been marked as "N/A. Creativity is an essential aspect of productivity. Globally, workers expect employers to drive change in society: nine out of ten employees across all regions believe that companies should engage in external DEI initiatives, such as promoting supply-chain and distribution-channel diversity, pro bono efforts, and cradle-to-career initiatives. Dealing with managers (23%)6. A lifelong San . Diverse employees are struggling the most during COVID-19heres how companies can respond, This article was a collaborative effort by, How the LGBTQ+ community fares in the workplace. But the married couple . Given the complex nature of what drives mental-health challenges (for example, burnout, anxiety outside the workplace, uncertainty about the future), companies may need to invest in many areas at once, including interventions related to increased workloads and employees sense of belonging. Its natural that people want to be recognized for the hard work they do. Train managers to create an agenda in advance and approach these meetings as a consultant, not an authoritarian. From the sometimes overwhelming feeling of being overworked to the hidden stressors such as having to be on all day, its not always easy for employees. Ways to improve employee engagement in the workplace, include prioritizing feedback, recognizing top performers and rewarding achievements, and carrying out frequent employee engagement surveys. In a survey carried out in 20212, only 36% of workers in the US reported that they remained engaged in their jobs actively. Dealing with coworkers (26%)4. Women are highly concentrated in sectorsthat are expected to suffer high rates of unemployment in 2020, including hospitality, food services, and retail. "It has tested our resilience, but also . blueprints for successful and productive living, To read more about these 42 key challenges and the Job This looks at your current and future needs to decide which technology is a priority and which can wait. Get growth strategies from our experts in your inbox. When faced with a challenge, an individual can seek ways to overcome that challenge to progress in their career or personal life. Other ways to recognize your employees without breaking the bank can include a free celebration lunch or a monetary bonus for the employee of the month. But by creating an environment that values growth and continuous learning, you can navigate these discussions while focusing on the lessons learned rather than dwelling on mistakes. Transparency is critical to company success. For people of color across the survey, acute challenges are more commonly felt across workplace health and safety, career progression, and household responsibilities. Geographically, the differences between LGBTQ+ and straight and cisgender employees are most marked in Asia, where nearly twice as many LGBTQ+ as straight and cisgender respondents cited acute challenges with fair performance reviews and workload increases. Workplace politics (25%)5. Organizational restructures disadvantage workers Make sure to get feedback from your employees, as theyre the ones that will be working with the technology on a daily basis. Top 9 recruiting challenges and how to overcome them Use tab to navigate through the menu items. According to an Indeed survey, 30% of people who quit their job within the first six months would have stayed longer if they were recognized more for their contributions. But more than one-third of employees struggle to get these inputs to the upper management. New global research shows that despite companies recent efforts, diverse employees need more. While difficulties are common to every country, employees in emerging economies are clearly struggling more. But what should you look for? Prioritize employee well-being. COVID-19 and the employee experience | McKinsey In fact, acute challenges (those that are felt significantly by respondents) are two to three times more common for employees in emerging economies than for employees in developed economies (Exhibit 2). 8. As employers look to respond to what employees told us in this survey, they will need to rethink the traditional approach to diversity and inclusion. Answering all of their emails (13%). Employees are not earning enough to make ends meet48. One key response to this is for employees tomind their own business, future-proof theirjobs, and secure their future income streams from potential shocks of organizational restructures, poor health, technology innovation, economic uncertainties, and poor management. One of the most typical challenges faced by employees in the workplace is dealing with bureaucratic bottlenecks slowing down the work process or working under a disgruntled boss that affects the morale and mood of the team. Keeping DEI high on the CEOs agenda is critical because it means companies are significantly more likely to drive impact through action. Mayor London Breed at City Hall in April. Not having somebody to turn to for help (16%)9. The disparity compared with their white counterparts is particularly stark for POC in the United States. Employees are converted into contractors15. Not adapting your approach if needed.4. This is good news because it means theres plenty of advice out there to help you find a solution! Employers know they must address workplace health and safety for all employees in addition to supporting mental-health needs and fostering connectivity and belonging in remote environments, all against the backdrop of diverse employee populations dealing with unique experiences and inequities. Problems Faced by Working Women Employees in BPO Sector, North Asian International Research Journal of Social Science & Humanities. But without communication, its difficult for employees to know whats expected of them. Workplace Issues and Challenges of Women Employees - ResearchGate Approaching conversations about failures with sensitivity and empathy is crucial. Employees are unhappy, disengaged27. This article was edited by Barbara Tierney, a senior editor in the New York office. It centres around understanding the tastes, needs, and challenges faced by employees, just like adjusting flavours based on individual preferences. Whether you're onboarding a new hire or introducing an existing employee to new tools or processes, these are the main challenges you'll face. And when employees struggle, their. Concerns over workplace health and safety are perhaps unsurprising given the disproportionate health impacts experienced by people of color. Employees are not accurately paid or on time44. What do these results mean for companies? Hiring skilled people who can add value to the organization is one of the most important activities of HR. There is no magic-bullet solution. Employees are disadvantaged by minimum wage16. However, there are ways to overcome these obstacles and get more out of your workday. One of the easiest ways for trust to break down is through a lack of communication. Employees can easily request time off, trade shifts, and track their PTO, all of which gives them a great sense of flexibility. Dive Deeper: The Employee Training Manifesto for Enhanced . There are distinct challenges faced by nonremote workers compared with remote workers in the current crisis. Kweilin Ellingrud is a senior partner in McKinseys Minneapolis office; Mekala Krishnan is a McKinsey Global Institute senior fellow in the Boston office; Alexis Krivkovich is a senior partner in the San Francisco office, where Nicole Robinson is a consultant and Lareina Yee is a senior partner and McKinseys chief diversity and inclusion officer; Kathryn Kukla is a consultant in the Pittsburgh office; Ana Mendy is a partner in the Southern California office; and Sandra Sancier-Sultan is a senior partner in the Paris office. In the case of these businesses, not everyone can work remotely, and for some sectors employees still need to go into work. Don't hesitate to contact us today. Employees face the challenge of losing interest during work and becoming unmotivated. Healthcare cost increasing53. Ask them what problems have you faced during the work and what technology can help resolve that. Maintaining a positive morale in the workplace is one challenge faced by employees. Poor training is a leadership challenge in the workplace that can also lead to increased frustration because employees dont know what it takes to improve their performance or excel in their roles. Graduates struggle to find their first job61.
