Nearly half (49%) of employees estimate they lose between one and five hours weekly of workforce productivity dealing with IT issues. Yet, 42% of employers do not measure productivity loss due to IT issues, reveals new research by global technology solutions company Unisys Corporation. 

Employees want to help improve the IT experience, with 92% being somewhat to very willing to share their data if it would enable more predictive technology support. 

The research titled From Surviving to Thriving in Hybrid Work, conducted in partnership with leading global research consultancy HFS Research, highlights that access to best-in-class technology will continue to be a critical factor in employee engagement and performance.

Improve tech deployment, support to boost workforce engagement

Of the employees surveyed, 62% indicate access to technology as a highly motivating factor in their work performance. However, the report found that companies’ approach to deploying and providing ongoing support for technology solutions has created challenges for employees.

Employers also need to be mindful of the generational differences in the perceived value of different workplace technologies to strike a balance between what’s new and innovative and what will move the needle on productivity. 

For instance, millennial employees see far higher value in chatbots, wearable devices and virtual whiteboards compared to their Gen Z colleagues.

Invest in employee experience programmes

Many companies have formed or ramped up employee experience (EX) programmes amidst the Great Resignation to improve employee recruitment and retention. 

Companies with very mature EX programmes find their employees more engaged today than six months ago at a rate of 74%, compared to those with immature EX programmes (24%).

Both employees and employers share similar viewpoints regarding the value of an employee experience programme. 

More than 60% of employees and employers feel that an employee experience programme significantly impacts employee productivity, talent retention, revenue and profitability.

Hybrid has set a new standard for work models

The report notes that beyond simply implementing hybrid work, organisations must optimise it to attract and retain talent, train and onboard new team members, create new leaders, and maximise engagement and productivity. 

Other key findings in the report include:

• 70% of employers indicate that hybrid will persist as their primary workforce model.
• 67% of hybrid employees cite location flexibility for work/life balance as one of the top motivational factors influencing their work performance.
• Individual empowerment in the workplace is a necessity – 70% of employees state decision-making power is a critical factor for their motivation, compared to only 57% of management citing this as being important.

“The convergence of workplace technology and employee engagement has never been more imperative. Companies continue to face tough decisions and must evaluate how they invest in creating the workplace of the future and foster a strong workplace culture that boosts employee happiness,” said Joel Raper, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Workplace Solutions at Unisys. 

“This report reinforces what we are seeing from our clients as organisations adapt to a hybrid-first mentality and embark on the types of organizational change management initiatives that drive long-term employee satisfaction and productivity.”