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Is work tech keeping pace with employee expectations?

The short answer? Not so much!


New global research from Freshworks shows that despite a pandemic-driven tech spend surge, nine in ten (91%) employees are still frustrated by workplace tech. It reveals that businesses globally face a potential workplace crisis due to inadequate technology, damaging employee productivity, mental health, and the ability to retain talent.


The truth is, the concept of tech frustration is not entirely new. I’m sure most of us reading this article would’ve had personal accounts of dealing with inadequate tech at the workplace. Whether hampered by slow speeds, response times from helpdesks, ineffective collaboration, or not having the right technology tools to do our jobs, we’ve been there, done that. 

But that’s changing, and for a good reason. 


At a time when almost half (44%) of employees globally are considering changing jobs, easy-to-use technology makes a surprising impact on employee satisfaction. Addressing this expectation gap is now business critical. Seven in ten (71%) business leaders acknowledge that employees will consider looking for a new employer if their current job does not provide access to the tools, technology, or information they need to do their jobs well.


The emerging advantage in the war for talent


With the war for talent showing no signs of slowing down, business leaders are expected to deliver consumer-grade experiences, especially when it comes to technology. But it’s not enough to have any old technology; you need the right technology, and it has to be fit for purpose.


In such a fluid labour market, easy-to-use technology can make a surprising impact on employee satisfaction. While pay and benefits top the reasons to move jobs, lack of flexible working opportunities and innovative tech is in the top five. 

The impact on retention is further reinforced by the fact that 44% of employees admitted that their company’s increased investment in automation could dissuade them from finding a new job.


Impact on productivity and business efficiency


The employee experience isn’t the only thing harmed by insufficient workplace technology; it’s also harming the wider business. Freshworks’ survey reveals that legacy tech is restraining business productivity as frustrated employees grapple with daily IT challenges.


Nearly three in five (57%) employees who feel this frustration say it makes them less productive. Over two in five (44%) employees surveyed say the time spent dealing with technology issues has increased since the beginning of the pandemic.

 

Final thoughts


Keeping employees satisfied in their work is an eternal challenge, doubly so when remote working has ignited IT frustrations. But the benefits of employee satisfaction, including improvements to productivity and loyalty, make the efforts to drive it worthwhile. 


The new age workforce has very little tolerance for archaic tools. When employees are considering moving jobs without hesitation, there’s never been a more critical moment for companies to take another look at their technology set-up or risk losing the war for talent, tangible competitive advantage, and business success.


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