May 14, 2023
It’s not only the human experience which is evolving under the growing influence of global megatrends employee experience is also being directly impacted and shaped.
Our latest blog explores the future of employee programmes through the lens of one of the four key megatrends explored by BI WORLDWIDE in our shaping the future series, Climate Change, and how this is affecting employee programmes and employees expectations.
It’s not only the human experience which is evolving under the growing influence of global megatrends, the employee experience is also being directly impacted and shaped.
These trends can’t be ignored. All of them are affecting employee needs, expectations, and how they show up at work, and that has consequences for reward and recognition now and in the future.
It will come as no surprise to you that one of the megatrends is climate change.
You’ve seen the news, read the papers, heard the science – the planet is at a critical crossroads. From rising sea levels to growing demand for food and energy, climate change is a global crisis of our time.
“We already do our bit for the environment,” you might be saying. “We’ve gone paperless and the company car’s electric.” That’s great, but that’s just the tip of the disappearing iceberg.
In addition to the ‘easy wins’, have you thought about how sustainability is reflected in your business’s employee experience and recognition activity? You really should.
The reality is that climate change is now firmly embedded in the public consciousness and discussion and action surrounding the subject will only intensify with each new generation.
In fact, according to the Deloitte Gen Z and Millennial Survey 2022, after the cost of living, climate change was the second highest concern for both these key employee demographics.
And don’t underestimate the far-reaching decision-making of those concerns. Helping the planet isn’t reserved for when individuals ‘clock-off’ from work, it actually determines the work they ‘clock-off’ from.
That’s because climate change not only influences how people think and feel about the world around them, but also the businesses they buy from, the companies they work with and those they work for.
For a growing number of people, the colour of your credentials is as much a deciding factor as the colour of your money. If it’s not green, you could find the talent pool you’re fishing in gets smaller.
Employees want to work for companies that reflect their own values and expect their employer to pursue an agenda that balances financial results with social issues, equity and inclusion, and environmental impact.
Make sustainability a part of your culture and back up your intentions with actions. Although employees are walking the walk (90% of Millennials and Gen Zs are attempting to reduce their impact on the environment), many companies are only seen as talking the talk (less than 20% of Millennials and Gen Zs felt their employers were acting on climate change).
With research showing that 79% of Millennial employees are loyal to companies that care about their effect on society, having strong eco-commitments can positively impact both the work environment and the wider environment.
Putting sustainability at the heart of your company is clearly beneficial, and with PwC stating that it’s now the ‘lens through which a business is judged by its consumers, workforce, society and increasingly investors’, it’s something that needs seriously considering.
But how can you align your business objectives with those of your eco-conscious employees? Recognition! A recognition programme is uniquely placed to promote behaviours and celebrate successes. Whereas previously they were driven by an organisation’s vision and values, they’re now focused on organisational purpose, underpinned by the drive for better ESG strategies.
Here are five ways to improve your own recognition offering and positively affect the environment and your employee experience.
Incorporate objectives in your recognition programme, such as:
For more insight into the impact of megatrends such as climate change on reward and recognition offerings, click here to read BI WORLDWIDE’s 'Shaping the Future' report.