In the ever-evolving business landscape, the nature of how we work and where we work from is seeing a dynamic shift. It’s become more common to see companies with teams of people that are based around the world. On one hand, there are benefits like allowing companies to hire from a broader talent pool, rather than from one state or country. On the other, it can be difficult to keep remote employees engaged and productive.
According to a PwC survey on Global Workforce Hopes and Fear, 26% of employees say they plan to quit their job in the next 12 months, up from 19% last year. This emerging trend indicates that employers should be reviewing their global employee retention strategies to keep workers happy, engaged, and fulfilled.
In this blog, we look at what employees’ hopes and fears are in a global workforce, what some of the challenges businesses face, and tried and tested tools to engage employees.
What do Employees Want?
To answer this, let’s take a closer look at the PwC survey mentioned above.
It paints a vivid picture of the desires and concerns of today’s global workforce. A significant group of employees are contemplating changing jobs within a year. Financial pressure is rising, and more employees are facing constraints that are hurting their productivity and engagement, and the advent of AI technologies has stirred both excitement and anxiety.
Drawing from these findings, PwC prompts leaders to ask:
- Are we creating an inclusive and inspiring vision?
- Do our compensation and talent strategies support one another?
- Do we have a “future of work” narrative?
However, considering the rich tapestry of cultures and languages in today’s workforce, an equally important question arises:
- Are we ensuring communication is inclusive and diverse?
The importance of effective communication cannot be overstated.
Employees, in their diverse capacities, seek more than just a paycheck. They yearn for clarity in their roles, for an environment that respects and understands their cultural nuances, and for leadership that keeps them in the loop. They want to collaborate seamlessly, to be heard and valued, and to trust in the transparency of their organization. This is why effective, clear, and open communication ranks high on their list of priorities.
Communication with a Global Workforce
Communication is tough, even when we speak the same language. It’s especially tricky in a workplace where we discuss things like job performance and future plans. Now, think about talking to someone who speaks a different language. The challenge grows. But, with new technology, our world feels smaller. We meet and work with people from different places more than ever before. This is where new tools and practices come in. They help us communicate better with people, no matter where they are in the world or what language they speak.
How to Ensure Communication is Inclusive and Diverse
To answer this, we sat down with our VP of People, Nina Siglin to discuss the topic of communicating with a global and oftentimes multilingual workforce. Boostlingo has a truly global workforce, with offices in the U.S, Denmark, and the Philippines. When asked how her team ensures communication and inclusivity across global borders, Nina shared, “It starts with our mission and our core values – our mission is all around removing language barriers and increasing access to language. We talk about our mission and values at every opportunity, and that translates specifically into our employee base through a few key initiatives.”
To improve communication at Boostlingo, Nina shared these initiatives:
- Culture Club.
- Learning Management System (LMS) with content translated into multiple languages.
- Visiting global offices multiple times a year.
- Boostlingo Events for multilingual meetings and events.
These initiatives help with:
1. Bringing employees from all parts of the business and world together. That representation is important when discussing things impacting company culture, we have a well-rounded group helping us to make decisions on programs, positions, and processes.
2. Standardizing an approach to onboarding and training using the LMS platform and offering translated content allows us to effectively communicate with native and non-native English-speaking employees.
3. Providing opportunities for teams to come together and connect in person. Breaking down barriers might be at the core of what our product does but it starts with our people.
4. Holding company All Hands and other meetings on the Boostlingo Events platform allows employees to follow along with speakers and slides in their preferred language.
Engage Your Employees with Boostlingo Events
At BoostEvents, we take on the procurement of interpreters and translated slides, setting up an RSI platform, and providing an easy way for your employees to attend and participate in meetings in their native language. Boosting their engagement and fulfillment within your organization.
If you need assistance with planning or hosting your next multilingual meeting or event, please do not hesitate to contact us today.
