Workplace experience: your lever for employee presence and productivity

The workplace can either feel like a destination or a drag. What makes the difference isn’t just the furniture or free snacks. It’s the full experience of being there.

Workplace experience is what turns a regular workday into one that flows, connects, and energizes your employees. And when it’s done right, everyone wins. Keep reading to learn:

• What workplace experience is and why it matters
• Examples of workplace experience done right
• Tips for leveling up your experience for employees

What is workplace experience—and why should you care about it?

Workplace experience is how employees feel and perform while working onsite. Creating a great experience is a team effort, usually involving folks from Facilities, IT, and HR. 

It’s shaped by three core parts:

1. Space. The layout, design, and overall vibe of the workplace
2. Technology. The systems and tools employees use to get work done‍
3. People. The culture, policies, and relationships that shape how work actually happens

When these pieces come together, employees have a smoother experience onsite—and your company benefits. Employees are more likely to show up, stay focused, and do their best work. They’ll also build stronger connections with coworkers, which helps reduce churn. 

But the gains don’t stop there. A great workplace experience also:

• Boosts overall satisfaction and morale
• Encourages collaboration and sparks innovation
• Makes your company more attractive to top talent
• Streamlines operations and space management
• Supports employee well-being, leading to more onsite presence

In other words, a solid onsite experience is a win-win for your company and its employees.

Walk through a seamless day in the workplace

So, what does a great workplace experience actually look like? Let’s take a look at how a typical day might unfold when you intentionally design the workplace to support employees.

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Level up your workplace with these 5 tips

Building a smooth, welcoming workplace doesn’t happen by accident. Here are some simple ways to get started:

1. Design with people in mind. Focus on comfortable spaces that support different work styles. Think quiet zones, brainstorm rooms, and collaboration corners for team huddles.
2. Invest in reliable tech. Fast Wi-Fi, easy-to-use booking tools, and seamless video conferencing make work flow better. Choose tools that work together so employees don’t waste time switching systems.
3. Make booking easy. Desk and room reservation systems take the hassle out of finding the right spot so employees can focus on the work that matters.
4. Encourage connection. Create spaces and opportunities for teammates to collaborate and build relationships. This could include shared lounges, open meeting areas, or team lunches.
5. Keep communication clear. Make sure everyone knows what to expect, from workplace policies to how to get tech support. 

Keep improving with employee feedback

Employee needs are always evolving. To keep the workplace experience strong, your team has to evolve too. The key? Keep listening. Giving employees easy, clear ways to share feedback makes a huge difference. Here’s how to do it right:

• Offer more than one way to speak up. Making it as easy as possible will encourage employees to share their thoughts. Consider collecting feedback via Slack, surveys, and annual feedback sessions. 
• Provide clear direction. Say what kind of feedback is helpful. Ask for examples and tell employees when they should submit the feedback.
• Nudge regularly. Don’t wait for an annual review cycle. Use internal comms to send friendly reminders across different channels so you’re not relying on one email to do all the work.‍
• Close the feedback loop. Nothing kills trust faster than silence. Let employees know what happened with their feedback. Even if you didn’t act on it, offer a reason for why. What matters is showing them they were heard.

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A solid workplace experience is good for employees and great for business. When you bring together space, technology, and culture, you create an environment where everyone thrives.

Ready to take your workplace experience up a level? Check out our ebook, Business success depends on a thriving workplace community, for practical strategies to build a space where your employees can do their best work.