Ultimate guide to improving the employee experience

The conversation around employee experience is shifting—again. Giants like Google are doubling down on return-to-office efforts, recently offering exit packages to some U.S. employees who decline to relocate or come in more often. But many companies are finding that mandates alone aren’t enough to bring people back. The reality is, most organizations still aren’t doing enough to make onsite work feel worth it. In fact, Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report found that one in five employees feels lonely at work. And according to recent Harvard research, just being in the office doesn’t fix that. It takes intentional effort to build connection and community.

That’s where employee experience comes in. Read on to learn:

• What employee experience is and why it matters
• The role of the workplace in improving the employee experience
• 6 ways to improve the employee experience

What is “employee experience,” really?

Employee experience is made up of all the different interactions someone has at work. It encompasses the way they interact with technology, people, and the environment at work. Employee experience covers everything from company culture, career development, workload, manager and coworker relationships, and more. 

A great employee experience directly correlates to business success. The more folks enjoy their experience at work, the better they perform and engage with your company culture and mission. Here are five core areas that make up employee experience throughout every employee lifecycle:

1. The manager-employee relationship. A strong bond between managers and direct reports (defined by regular coaching, clear expectations, and overall support) can boost employees’ sense of value and confidence. In fact, recent research shows that 70% of the variance in team engagement stems from the manager—making manager quality a top driver of employee engagement.
2. The role. Only 41% of employees say their job matches the original description. Misalignment can hurt the employee experience, especially when extra responsibilities go unrecognized.
3. The team. Working well and collaborating with coworkers plays a huge role in creating a great employee experience. In fact, employees who collaborate with coworkers in the workplace are 17% more satisfied with their job than those who don’t.
4. The workplace. The best way to build relationships is in person. That’s why it’s crucial for organizations with hybrid or full-time return-to-office policies to utilize the workplace as a critical lever to improving the employee experience.‍
5. The culture. In 2024, global employee engagement dropped from 23% to 21%, matching the sharp decline seen during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. To reverse this trend, organizations need to foster a healthy, positive culture that employees genuinely enjoy. This, in turn, drives a stronger employee experience and supports outcomes like talent retention and a sense of community.

What’s the difference between workplace experience and employee experience?

Workplace experience is just one part of the overall employee experience. Workplace experience focuses on how people interact with space, people, and technology within the physical workplace. Employee experience, on the other hand, encompasses people’s workplace experience and so much more. 

For example, employee experience includes how people feel about the workplace culture, their relationships with peers both in and out of the office, and the support they receive around workload and professional growth.

Why does improving the employee experience matter?

A Gartner study found that only 13% of people felt satisfied with their current employee experience. On the flip side, organizations that invest in creating a positive employee experience see a 31% rise in employee intent to stay and a 47% increase in performance. 

The reality is that it pays to improve the employee experience–both from a people and business perspective. The better their experience, the more engaged employees are and able to better represent your company and brand. This, in turn, enables them to replicate a positive experience for others, including customers, prospects, and other folks who interact with your organization.

The role of the workplace in improving employee experience

Return-to-office policies are in full swing and more people are working in an office full-time or as part of a hybrid work policy. This makes the role of the workplace even more important in upleveling the employee experience. Here’s why:

The workplace provides a variety of spaces for employees to work

Whether it’s a quick chat with a coworker, heads-down focus time, or team collaboration, the workplace should support a range of activities. A well-balanced office includes meeting rooms, desks, quiet zones, social areas, 1:1 pods, mothers’ rooms, a kitchen space, and more.

The workplace provides an opportunity for employees to ask for help

When people are onsite with coworkers and managers, they are able to book desks next to folks so they can connect and collaborate on the fly. This not only leads to better productivity, but also improves the employee experience through organic learning and development. The more folks can learn from each other–either through questions, conversations, or meetings–the better experience they’ll have at your company.

The workplace offers better work-life balance

The workplace helps people achieve better work-life balance by physically separating home and work. Unlike remote work, where folks spend 10% longer working than those onsite, employees can come onsite to be productive and get work done. They can then leave it at the office when they go home for the day. Returning to the office doesn’t mean people can’t tick off personal to-dos while onsite, either. In fact, according to our At Work survey, the majority of leaders (64%) do not view personal time during the workday negatively.

The workplace drives community through team building and workplace relationships

The same report shows 46% of executives now prioritize relationship-building over productivity, which is a shift from previous years. While results still matter, the real value of the workplace lies in fostering community through in-person conversations, learning, and collaboration, which ultimately drives performance.

6 ways to improve the employee experience

Creating a great employee experience takes ongoing effort, especially as hybrid work and RTO policies create tension. While you can’t meet every need, regularly checking in, listening to feedback, and improving the workplace can make a big impact. Here are six ways to get started:

1. Harness the power of the workplace

Onsite employees expect more from their workspace, whether that’s coffee and snacks or comfortable, flexible areas to focus and collaborate. Take stock of what your office offers and where it can better support creativity and productivity. For example, you may need smarter space solutions that automate your workplace and eliminate inefficiencies. Or hot-desking that enables folks to sit where they’re most productive. Start by evaluating your space to identify gaps, then decide on solutions that’ll help you improve.

2. Get the right tech stack

The technology employees rely on plays a major role in their overall experience. This might be as simple as the laptops they use, or the room booking solution your company uses. Ensuring you have the right tech stack to power your workplace can drive collaboration, productivity, and most importantly, employee experience.

3. Provide learning and development opportunities

Supporting employee growth shows you value their contributions and potential. Offer stipends for courses, bring in expert trainers, or host low-cost lunch-and-learns where teammates share their skills.

4. Focus on manager training

Strong leadership is key to retention. Did you know that 82% of people leave their job due to a bad employee-manager relationship? Invest in manager training to help them build trust, foster development, and support their teams effectively. 

5. Don’t forget about social events

Virtual happy hours during the pandemic weren’t the same as in-person fun. Now that we’re back together, regular social events—think happy hours, games, or themed evenings—can boost connections and improve the employee experience beyond work.

6. Survey employees, regularly

You might think you’re doing all the right things to improve employee experience, but the best way to know is to ask. Regular surveys can reveal how employees really feel (burnout, confusion about policies, and more) helping you address issues early. With employees having many work options and turnover costs hitting up to a trillion dollars annually, the solution is simple: make employees feel valued, confident, and happy. Use these best practices to boost employee experience and reap lasting benefits for your organization. And your people.

Want to know more about improving your workplace for your people? Check out our Ultimate Guide library, filled with blog posts covering a whole suite of different workplace topics. You’ll be a workplace pro by the end of it–promise.