DaaS -
Mar 1, 2024
Why employee choice works – The power of choice.
Do you remember your first day of work? You were probably just handed a device to work on. You wouldn’t have even thought about asking for an alternative even if you received a PC but preferred Macs.
Things are different now. The job market is more competitive than 10 years ago and if you want to attract and retain top talent, you need to create the ultimate employee experience. We need to listen to our applicants and address their needs. One example of this is giving them a device they want. Why is it so important to let employees choose?
Changing expectations.
Much the same as with the consumer market, vendors are no longer pushing products on customers; customers are now telling them what they expect products to do. This is also true for the employment market—the younger generations of applicants like millennials and Gen Z know what they want from a job. If you don’t meet their expectations, your competitor probably will. Common requests are extras like flexible working hours, a choice of devices and hybrid working and whether you see it as asking for too much or simply being smart, you’ll have to grant these wishes if you want to win the war for talent.
Employee choice as a fringe benefit.
A job comes with both primary and secondary benefits. Primary benefits are associated with a feeling of security, such as salary. while secondary ones fulfil the need for appreciation and recognition within an organisation. Employee choice allows workers to choose their own device, be that a laptop or phone, and this freedom of choice satisfies the need for recognition and appreciation. Consciously or not, it is something we value greatly.
A Catalyst survey has shown that at the peak of the pandemic, 2 out of 5 employees thought about quitting their jobs. The reason? The feeling that the organisation or management did not address their key issues combined with a lack of recognition and social contact.
Employee choice – A worthwhile investment?
Hesitating with an employee choice strategy because of costs? Think again. Just think about the not inconsiderable costs for employees that leave. Let’s do some calculations…
Every employee that leaves costs 33% of their annual salary. For an IT manager with an annual salary of €58,320 that’s €19,246. And then there are the additional costs that you incur through things like lower productivity, lacking team spirit, loss of knowledge and innovation and more.
Introducing employee choice in your organisation.
The future will see a shift in focus towards the employee experience as this lets you stand out from other employers.
The choice between a Mac and a PC.
If employees have to choose between a PC and a Mac, they tend to go for the Mac. It is the device of choice for millennials and Gen Z who know their way around them and find them easy to use. Surveys show that 72% of employees opt for MacBooks while 75% choose iPhones or iPads while a whopping 60% were of the opinion that switching to Mac would boost their productivity.
How does employee choice affect device management?
The more devices being used, the more work for your IT department, right? Wrong. Apple devices blend in seamlessly and work well with your existing applications such as Microsoft Office and once initial setup is complete and profiles have been configured, you only need one portal such as Intune to handle daily device management. Once devices have been installed, centralised device management streamlines all IT processes. And although Mac devices are more expensive to procure, they prove cost-efficient thanks to low maintenance and security costs, plus Mac devices also have a high residual value.
Are you ready to enhance the employee experience?
The strength of a powerful employee experience lies in giving workers freedom, like employee choice. Employees feel appreciated and seen, leading to a stronger connection with the company and in turn higher productivity. As an employee leaving entails considerable costs, it makes sense to invest in factors that foster connection and satisfaction.
Introducing an employee choice programme in your company has all-round benefits. The IT department enjoys lower costs and more time for innovation when an employee chooses a Mac. HR has a competitive edge on the market, end users get their IT needs fulfilled and the company experiences higher employee satisfaction and lower staff turnover. Are you ready to introduce employee choice in your organisation? Get in touch with us today.
Want to find out more?
Get in touch with Noël Brouwers, Business Developer Workplace & Mobility.
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This post was published on Mar 1, 2024.