Rethinking Employee Experience: Lessons from The BBC and Schiphol Airport
May 3, 2024
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Dive into the evolution of employee experience, moving beyond standard engagement practices. Discover how the BBC and Schiphol Airport implement innovative strategies that prioritize employee empowerment and operational excellence. Learn about the essential elements like training, inclusion, and benefits that shape a fulfilling work environment. The concept of employee activation reveals how empowering staff to make changes enhances their own work experiences, ultimately driving organizational success.
The evolution from employee engagement to employee experience requires a holistic understanding of employees' needs and continuous feedback mechanisms.
Innovative strategies, such as the five-level framework from the BBC and centralized hiring at Schiphol Airport, significantly enhance employee satisfaction and performance.
Deep dives
Evolution of Employee Experience
The podcast highlights the evolution from traditional employee engagement paradigms to a more holistic view of employee experience. Initially, employee engagement focused on creating a comfortable psychological environment for workers, stemming from historical practices rooted in industrial efficiency. Over time, the conversation has shifted to encompass a broader understanding of employee needs, reflecting how their experiences influence not only their performance but also the overall organizational success. This shift includes moving from annual surveys to continuous feedback mechanisms, allowing for real-time insights into employee satisfaction and the operations behind their experiences.
Innovative Approaches to Employee Experience at BBC
The podcast details the innovative strategies employed by the BBC under the leadership of Uzair Khadir to enhance employee experience. By implementing a five-level employee experience framework, Khadir ensures that employees are supported throughout their journey in the organization—from onboarding to career transitions. This approach also includes a career development program that allows employees to explore different roles, further engaging them and driving organizational performance. This focus on individual growth within the company contributes to higher engagement levels and better alignment with organizational goals.
Integration of Workforce Experience at Schiphol Airport
The insights shared about Schiphol Airport and Esmee Volk's leadership illustrate the need for an integrated approach to workforce experience, particularly in complex environments like airports. Volk's initiatives included centralizing hiring processes across various contractors to improve efficiency and candidate experience, which ultimately enhances the employee experience. The podcast emphasizes the importance of not just managing full-time employees but also addressing the experiences of contractors who shape customer interactions. By improving operational elements such as recruitment and day-to-day job functions, the airport enhances overall service quality and employee satisfaction.
This conversation explores the concept of employee experience and its evolution from employee engagement.
The case studies of the BBC and Schiphol Airport demonstrate innovative approaches to creating inspiring employee experiences. The discussion emphasizes the operational aspects of employee experience, including training, inclusion, belonging, pay, and benefits. It also introduces the concept of employee activation, where employees are empowered to make local changes to improve their work experience directly.
Keywords
employee experience, employee engagement, case studies, operational aspects, training, inclusion, belonging, pay, benefits, employee activation, BBC, Schiphol, T-Mobile, AirBNB, Kaiser Permanente
Takeaways
Employee experience is a more expansive and refreshed approach compared to traditional employee engagement.
Understanding the specific needs and experiences of different employee groups is crucial for creating inspiring employee experiences.
Operational aspects such as training, inclusion, belonging, pay, and benefits play a significant role in employee experience.
Employee activation empowers employees to make local changes to improve their work experience.
Sound Bites
“Employee experience is the core mission of HR”
“Self-directed and coach-oriented career development is a massive driver of organizational performance”
“Be careful not to threaten employees inadvertently with AI”