Many employers are collectively facing financial challenges as high inflation rates and increases in energy, food and housing costs have become critical challenges across the UK. Recent findings from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) found that 1 in 4 employees say that money worries affect their ability to do their job, while an Office for Budget Responsibility report projected that real household disposable income would fall by 7 per cent by 2024.
As such, there is a strong business case, alongside perhaps a moral duty, in favour of employers showing their commitment to supporting the financial wellbeing of their workforces. Providing your workforce with devices that are optimised for work and life could be one of the key solutions to preventing a staff exodus and lessen the financial burden that many employees are feeling today.
Deploying high-powered devices to individuals who need technology to function in both their personal and professional lives reduces their financial burden, especially at a time when consumer spending power has reduced. Equipping your workforce with premium devices has other business benefits too beyond just employee loyalty. By ensuring teams are running on new hardware, organisations can reduce total cost of ownership longer term, instead of spending time and money on the prospect and immediacy of cheaper hardware in the here and now.
Microsoft Surface’s The re-imagined office: not a re-design but a re-define research revealed more than a third (35 per cent) of employees who received a new device since the onset of Covid-19 reported a resulting increase in their productivity, while 81 per cent view their device as their personal office.
Having a premium device not only drives productivity in the workplace and positively influences employee satisfaction at work and at home, but it also correlates to how valued employees feel and can positively impact their willingness to stay at a company long term. The Microsoft Surface research found that employees viewed new devices and their benefits through the lens of how well the device will enable them to do their job. As many ‘made do’ with existing devices to support them throughout the pandemic, 61 per cent said having the right device helps them maintain a healthy work-life balance by supporting their productivity.
Alongside having high-powered devices for hybrid and flexible work, the data revealed a high consensus from 50 per cent of employees who agreed getting back to the office and working in person with their colleagues creates a better connection to their company’s organisational purpose. As hybrid work continues to evolve, ITDMs and management teams need to find new ways to bring people together – both inside and outside the office – to collaborate, enabling flexible work while fostering a stronger company culture to ensure employees feel engaged and supported in their role.
As the effects of the cost of living crisis and increased inflation continue to be felt, organisations need to prioritise employee satisfaction through the lens of technology to ensure their workforce is equipped to bring their best selves to their job. Premium device investment not only gives employees the tools they need to succeed, but brings with it organisational cost savings in the years to come.
