Randstad US study reveals ways technology has helped (and hurt) us in the workplace

How our post-digital world has changed the way employees are hired, developed and retained

News provided by

Apr 23, 2019, 09:00 ET

ATLANTA and NEW YORK, April 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Randstad US and Future Workplace today announced the results of a new study titled "Technology and the Employee Experience: How Technology Impacts Your Most Important Asset." The survey of more than 1,200 U.S. human resources leaders, line managers and employees focused on the influence of technology throughout the employee lifecycle - from hiring to engagement and retention.

While technology brings many benefits to the workplace, the study highlights several negative effects. More than half of managers (56%) and employees (55%) alike say they use digital communications to handle work conflicts instead of discussing the situation in person or over the phone. What's more, 79 percent of managers say technology encourages immediate action over strategic thinking.

The difference between how managers and employees view the potential impact of technology in the hiring process can also be substantial. For example, two out of three (66%) managers don't think negative online employer reviews significantly impact their ability to recruit top candidates, but over half (57%) of employees say they won't even apply to a company with negative reviews.

Additional findings from the survey:

As a screening tool, online skills assessments are more effective than artificial intelligence (AI). Well over half (63%) of employers say that online skills assessments are the most effective tech solution for screening candidates, and 37 percent say online tests not only help them make smarter hiring decisions, but increase efficiency and speed-to-fill. Meanwhile, fewer than 40 percent of employers say the same of artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbots. Of employees surveyed, about one-half (51%) have taken an online skills test during their job search, while only six percent say they have interacted with AI while looking for a job.

There are stark generational differences in how workers use technology. For example, almost one-half of Gen Z respondents (47%) admit to texting during meetings, compared to just 22 percent of baby boomers. Gen Z employees (60%) are also nearly three times as likely as baby boomers (22%) to use technology for personal reasons during the workday. And while nearly two-thirds (63%) of Gen Z employees frequently or sometimes check work email or texts outside of office hours, only 38 percent of baby boomers do the same.

Pressure for employees to be "always on" appears to be increasing. A majority of employers (53%) expect employees to at least sometimes respond to business messages while on vacation. Of employees, one-fifth (21%) say they always or very often respond to business messages while on vacation. Among generations, Gen Z and millennial employees are far more likely to respond to business messages while on vacation than Gen X or baby boomers. When asked why they respond to business messages when away from work, employees say they love what they do (21%), think it's good for their career (18%) or feel guilty if they don't respond (16%).

Blended learning models offer the best of both worlds. Almost all (94%) companies at least sometimes offer or pay for training opportunities for employees to learn new skills specific to their role, but a smaller percentage (74%) of employees say the same. Forty percent of employers say they provide blended learning models that combine technology touchpoints and in-person training. Of these blended learning models, the most common approaches are one-on-one coaching (45%), instructor-led on-site training (43%), computer-based training (40%), peer mentoring (39%) and hard-copy training manuals (36%). At the same time, only one-fourth of companies say they provide the same learning opportunities to remote workers, which may be an area for improvement going forward. After all, the vast majority (87%) of employees say they at least sometimes take advantage of learning opportunities.

Automation as a solution for at-risk new hires. The majority (66%) of managers say they've had a new hire accept a job offer, only to back out before the start date. And there's reason to believe this kind of behavior may increase: One-third (34%) of Gen Z respondents report having accepted and then reneged on job offers, compared to only 13 percent of baby boomers. Companies can prevent this by developing processes for engaging new hires during the interval between formal acceptance and start dates. Unfortunately, however, nearly one-third (30%) of companies say they don't have such processes in place.

Quotes
"Today's managers must lead toward technology decompression by providing opportunities and tools that allow teams to slow down, think holistically and build their strategic muscles."
– Jim Link, Chief Human Resources Officer, Randstad North America

"In this 24/7 business world, employees need a break from work if they want to maintain their health, happiness and productivity. Our study found that managers don't always encourage their employees to take much-needed vacations and even when they do, there's an expectation and guilt to respond to business emails. Not having your phone is the new vacation. Employers should take this subject more seriously if they want to engage and retain the best talent."
– Dan Schawbel, Research Director, Future Workplace and author of Back to Human

To learn more about how tech is impacting the workforce of tomorrow download the Technology and the Employee Experience report.

Research Methodology
Research findings are based on a survey conducted by VIGA across the U.S. between Dec. 7 and 14, 2018. For this survey, 1,202 employees and managers were asked general questions to explore the impact of technology on the employee lifecycle. The study targeted HR managers, line managers and employees with no management responsibilities. Respondents were recruited through a number of different mechanisms, via different sources to join the panels and participate in market research surveys. All panelists passed a double opt-in process and completed an average of 300 profiling data points prior to taking part in the survey. Respondents were invited to take part via email and provided a small monetary incentive for doing so.

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 2.8 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About Randstad
Randstad North America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Randstad N.V., a €23.8 billion global provider of flexible work and human resources services. As a trusted human partner in the technology-driven world of talent, we combine the expertise and passion of our employees with some of the most innovative HR technologies on the market today to advance the careers and business success of our candidates and clients.

Randstad's North American operations comprise over 5,700 associates and a deployed workforce of more than 100,000 in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to staffing and recruitment, Randstad offers outsourcing, consulting and workforce management solutions for generalist and specialist disciplines, including technology, engineering, finance and accounting, clinical and non-clinical healthcare, human resources, legal, life sciences, manufacturing and logistics, office and administration and sales and marketing. Global concepts available to North American client companies include RPO, MSP, integrated talent solutions, payrolling and independent contractor management and career transition services. Learn more at www.randstadusa.com or www.randstad.ca.

About Future Workplace
Future Workplace is an HR Advisory and Research firm preparing leaders for what's next in the future workforce and workplace. Future Workplace works with heads of talent acquisition, talent management, human resources, corporate learning, and diversity to prepare them for the disruptions impacting recruitment, employee development, and engagement. Future Workplace is host of the Future Workplace Network, an Executive Council that includes heads of Human Resources, Corporate Learning, and Talent Management, who come together to discuss, debate and share "next" practices impacting the workplace and workforce of the future. For more information, please visit: http://www.futureworkplace.com.

SOURCE Randstad US