In this article, Aaron Rubens, co-founder and CEO of Kudoboard Inc,  discusses how investing in the right HR technology can help employers combat the quiet quitting crisis through tools that enable workplace appreciation, recognition, and engagement—all conducive to a positive workplace culture, which is essential for employee retention.Â
Shh…what’s that sound? That’s the sound of employees “quiet quitting†in droves across the United States (and beyond). According to GallupOpens a new window , quiet quitters make up a minimum of 50% of the workforce, and worker engagement has dropped since the second half of 2021. This indicates a growing disconnect between employees and employers, with many feeling underappreciated and disengaged. How did we get here?k
Many workplaces have become complacent regarding appreciation, assuming financial benefits are enough to keep employees engaged. However, with shifts in the current labor market, hybrid workplaces, the rising impact of inflation, and post-COVID adjustments, employees are expected to do more than ever—and they want to feel good about doing it. But the cost of employee retention is also something to consider strongly: the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reported Opens a new window that it typically costs a company six to nine months of an employee’s salary to replace them.Â
That boils down to the fact that perks and bonuses are not enough to keep employees feeling fulfilled. Suppose a company only provides monetary rewards or bonuses as its only form of recognition. In that case, employee expectations will shift to a compensation-only mindset, and companies will get stuck being unable to match the rising cost in employee costs/salaries. Workplace appreciation is the magic bullet to improved employee satisfaction, employee retention, and engagement — basically, the holy trinity when it comes to combating quiet quitting.
Company Culture Matters: Build The Foundation On Appreciation
Let’s explore why investing in HR technology is a surefire strategy for promoting workplace appreciation. The first reason, arguably the most holistic (and hardest) to do, is its ability to create an overall culture of appreciation. One of the most effective and efficient ways that HR can utilize powerful and intuitive tools is to centralize, automate, and take the burden off a single HR professional or team to sustain the stream of positivity. The right technology will help gauge how employees resonate with specific initiatives in real-time, identifying issues and assisting leaders in making better decisions.
Develop Engagement Strategies Targeted For The New Way We Work
The second way that the right HR technology can combat quiet quitting is by providing an antidote to the disconnect between remote and hybrid working. More schedule flexibility and the opportunity to work in one’s own home are great. Still, a lack of supportive office culture can come at a cost regarding workplace recognition. Virtual recognition alternatives come in handy when managing remote or hybrid employees, especially since connectivity has historically been built through in-person relationships.Â
Hybrid work can also make employee achievements less visible and decrease the amount of face time and team camaraderie—not always a problem. Still, it is always a lingering threat if executives are not intentional. Without leading with a culture of gratitude and usable appreciation tools, hybrid or remote employees are likely starving for the gratitude that will keep them engaged.Â
Managers are no longer limited in how they recognize their employees. Online group cards can replace the traditional card passed around in the office, giving employees more time to remember to respond and add thoughtful comments and interactive enhancements, like gifs or videos. Using HR technology to curate a positive workplace culture and implement appreciation initiatives carefully, leaders can create a sense of belonging that benefits an employee’s connection to the company and positively ties to increased employee retention.
Make Your Employees Feel Accepted, Included, and Heard
HR technology can pave the way forward by cultivating a stronger sense of DEI initiatives. The acronym refers to the policies and protocols that make a workplace welcoming and supportive for all employees, regardless of their background. Creating a clear corporate commitment to DEI sends a strong message to existing and potential employees: all are welcome in our workplace. As a result, HR leaders can retain talent, produce better outcomes, and prevent problems with toxic company culture.Â
Executives can use HR technology to drill down into data around diversity, equity, and inclusion numbers, which can be a painful reckoning for some companies, but also to foster a community culture that encourages diversity. Recognizing a cross-section of global holidays and using HR technology to amplify employees’ diverse lived experiences can also increase overarching organization conversation and support of individuals beyond their 9-5. HR technology can also help to eliminate social bias and geographical barriers, as well as increase accessibility.Â
Gratitude is the core building block of an authentic, humanized work culture. And we have seen from our internal data that the more connection & gratitude that exists within a company, the better it performs as an overall organization. Creating this requires investment in HR technology that not only automates and centralizes the employee experience, especially in the era of hybrid and remote work but also allows employees to receive and give gratitude for their job well done. So why risk a potential quiet quitting situation?
Technology can be incredibly transformative, but it is not a surefire bet to keep employees from quiet quitting. The best way for HR leaders to combat this current issue is to use the right technology platform to ensure employees are engaged in work they find rewarding while also feeling seen and acknowledged for being part of the team.
What steps should companies take to avoid quiet quitting? Share your thoughts with us on FacebookOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , and LinkedInOpens a new window . Â