As summer draws to a close, no one is more excited about the start of the school year than working parents. Quiet living spaces, uninterrupted lunch breaks, and “Zoombomb”-free conference calls are music to every hybrid employee’s ears, but the best gift working parents receive when kids go back to school?
Time—and lots of it.
Interestingly enough, a majority of today’s employees—parents and otherwise—are using this free time to upskill and capitalize on learning and development opportunities designed to further their career goals. The problem? They’re looking outside their organizations for those opportunities, rather than utilizing the L&D benefits at their fingertips.
Even with substantial training and advancement resources in place, employees can quickly experience a decrease in career purpose and job satisfaction when those resources aren’t easily accessible or personalized. But by housing employee learning resources in one centralized hub accessible across devices and in multiple formats, employees can pilot their own professional development journeys.
Businesses continue to face talent shortages and high turnover, and low employee engagement has been a major factor. With job stress steadily increasing and costing businesses $300 billion in losses due to absenteeism, diminished productivity, and accidents, employees want to work for organizations that can help them manage stress and renew their career passions.
Employees who receive opportunities to grow, learn, and develop are empowered to take ownership of their health and wellbeing. But the benefits aren’t just one-dimensional—on the flip side, when employees are supported physically, mentally, and emotionally, they’re better positioned to think critically, learn new skills, and apply their knowledge. Additionally, prioritizing employee learning fosters a sense of belonging and worthiness in the workplace, keeping employees engaged, satisfied, and motivated.
From an organizational standpoint, employers can get the most out of their health investments by investing in learning and development. In a survey of multigenerational employees, Gallup found that 59% of millennials, 44% of Gen Xers, and 41% of Baby Boomers are less inclined to leave their jobs when their organizations offer a wide variety of learning opportunities.
In other words, learning opportunities are quickly becoming magnets for talent—as well as huge retention boosters. And, when learning and development opportunities are personalized to employee preferences, ever-changing, and easily accessible, employers stand to see:
The start of the school year is the perfect time for employees to reassess personal and professional goals that may have been postponed during the hustle and bustle of summer. With the right digital wellness tools at their disposal, they can discover what their true career goals are, what they need to thrive, and how they can best serve their organizations.
Digital wellness solutions are the ideal partners to have when integrating larger career development initiatives into a comprehensive wellness strategy. Reach out to our experts today to see how top companies were able to maximize their employees’ potential, boost retention and revenue, and cultivate a culture of growth.