The demand for talent is greater than ever and this shortage on the labor market is expected to last for another two decades, according to the Social and Cultural Planning Office. That means that employers, more than ever, are looking for ways to keep their employees engaged. This not only plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining people, it also contributes to the innovation drive, creativity, productivity and overall performance of the organization. What can you do to be an attractive employer? Simply offering attractive terms of employment and flexible working hours is not sufficient anymore today. In this blog we give you five tips to become that irresistible employer.

1. Ensure a good work-life balance

Flexible working hours have been the rule rather than the exception since the so-called “Labor Market in Balance Act” of February 2020. It has become ever more important to promote a good work-life balance. Ensure open communication with employees about their workload and personal circumstances and encourage them to take good care of themselves, for example by taking regular breaks, eating healthy, exercising regularly and taking regular leave. Also, don’t forget to set a good example as an employer by respecting your team’s working hours. You can also take digital measures. For example, you can set silent hours in Microsoft Outlook and Teams. That doesn’t stop messages, but it does stop push notifications.

2. Create a healthy work environment

A healthy working environment is essential. A good work-life balance is one aspect of this. But you can do much more to keep employees healthy and happy – and therefore productive and satisfied. Provide plenty of natural light and fresh air in the work area. This can improve the mood and concentration of employees. Ergonomic workplaces with adjustable chairs and desks prevent physical complaints. Offer healthy food options in the workplace, such as fruits, vegetables and healthy snacks, and encourage exercise in the workplace. Organize ‘walking lunches’ (not to be confused with lunges), hold meetings standing or walking and provide the opportunity to exercise, exercise or meditate during working hours. Also consider a bicycle plan. Provide sufficient relaxation space in the workplace, such as a break room or lounge. This can help employees relax and improve productivity.

3. Invest in education and training

Learning makes people happy, according to research. It empowers people, it boosts their careers and it connects them. This will not only improve their performance, but also increase their loyalty and engagement. Moreover, it makes the organization more agile and if we have learned anything in recent years, it is that agile organizations are here to stay.

4. Communicate

A culture of open communication ensures that employees feel heard and understood. This can range from regular feedback meetings to employee engagement surveys and from brainstorming sessions to bilateral talks. Giving feedback is also important. It helps your employees to grow and develop. Feedback can also contribute to a positive work environment where employees feel valued and their contribution is recognized.

5. Automate

Retyping things, repetitive actions, administrative hassle and endless searches for the correct version of a document. This makes very few people happy. On the contrary, people are looking for meaning in their work, according to research. It appears that doing meaningful work, is many times more important than salary, for example. By using technology where possible, more time remains to provide real added value. This was exactly what inspired Floris Jan Galesloot to develop FILE 365. An app that integrates Microsoft 365 and Salesforce saves so much hassle. Open, edit and save Microsoft 365 files directly from Salesforce, including all the smart functionalities of Microsoft 365, it doesn’t get much smarter than that. This way your employees can really focus on the customer, which is ultimately what everyone gets the most satisfaction from: happy customers.

Interested?

FILE 365 integrates Microsoft 365 and Salesforce. Documents associated with a record in Salesforce are stored in SharePoint, but can be accessed from both Salesforce and SharePoint. Open and edit files directly from Salesforce with one click! Interested? Request a demo now without obligation! We’d love to get to know you.