Having an imbalance between the employer expectations and employee needs is quite common in new age companies today. Business professionals and entrepreneurs these days are facing a challenge regarding getting their job done while fulfilling their employees’ needs.
When it comes to expectations in the workplace, the employers and the workers have a different point of view. Sometimes, the difference is so huge that it affects the whole organization.
Bringing a balance between the needs and expectations of both the employee and employer can solve the problem most of the time. But before that, you need to know what causes the problem.
Reasons for the Gap
There are several reasons why there is a lack of harmony in the workplace. The reason can be both personal and professional.
Unrealistic Target
In most companies, particularly in startups, employers give unrealistic targets to the employees. They have to do a massive amount of work without sufficient tools.
When you put a heavy workload on an employee without providing them enough retargets, they lose interest in that work, which breaks the rhythm.
Employee Retention
One of the biggest problems employers face these days is the instability of their employees. Employees now have several options to apply for jobs, thanks to the JOBS Worker Service that helps people find the right job.
However, it is an employers nightmare when employees use their company as a springboard to other opportunities and ready to jump the ship as soon as they find a better opportunity.
Lack of Appreciation
A lot of employees complain that they are not appreciated for their effort. Some of them feel like they are working 24/7 but still can’t satisfy their boss. They are expected to work more and improve themselves. When the employees aren’t praised for their work, they feel undervalued. Being acknowledged and also rewarded are reasonable expectations from employees which must not be overlooked by immediate managers and upper management.
Lack of Love for the Work
According to a report by ADP Research Institute, two-thirds of the employees are open to switching to a new job. But why is this happening?
It’s because these employees have a lack of love for their current job. They don’t take pride in their work, and thus complete it in a way that doesn’t satisfy the employer.
The Wrong Job
Are you sure you’re doing the job you love? Most of the employees aren’t. It’s because either they are assigned the wrong job or they have chosen the wrong one. Assigning the wrong job to the wrong person can completely ruin the work as well as the confidence of the assigned person. You cannot show your true potential if you don’t get the right job, it’s primarily your responsibility to voice your concern to the employer.
How to Bridge the Gap
The invisible gap between the employee and employer expectations is quite harmful to the office environment. However, whether you’re an employer or an employee, you can overcome this problem and create a balanced work environment by following some rules.
1. Communicate Properly
As an employer, you need to communicate regularly with your employees. Whenever you assign work to them, talk to them about it. Tell them what you want and ask them if they are okay with it.
It’s important to talk about the project or work clearly to get things done. Employees cannot work properly if they are not clear about their requirements.
As an employee, you also need to inform your employer if you face any problem. If you don’t communicate, there will always be a gap between you and your boss.
2. Avoid Work Overload
A study published in BJPsych Bulletin reports that the main reason behind workplace stress is the adverse work environment. It happens when employees are overwhelmed by the workload.
Stressing over heavy workload is quite common in this era. All an employee wants from the employer is a work-life balance. That’s why it’s important not to give them more than they can do.
3. Learn Something New
Your employer has high expectations for you. You can only achieve that by improving your skills.
You cannot expect to improve yourself if you don’t learn new things. Take some time after your work and work on them. Get feedback for your work and work on the improvements.
As an employer, it’s your responsibility to work on your employee’s improvement. Arrange some training or learning courses for them. They will feel more important and respected.
4. Appreciate Each Other’s Effort
While most employees think they are putting enough effort in, employers don’t seem to be impressed. The same thing happens when an employer thinks they are offering enough to their employees.
While employees deserve some praise for their hard work, they should also appreciate their boss’s effort.
Instead of criticizing your worker, try to find out the reason why they can’t succeed in the given work. And when your boss is trying to improve you, appreciate their effort.
5. Find the Right Person for the Right Job
You cannot expect a fish to climb the tree, can you? Similarly, you cannot make your accountant do the marketing job. Before you assign projects, find out if the person you are thinking of is the right person for it. Check their background and assign work accordingly.
As an employee, it’s also your duty to find the perfect job for you. You cannot expect to get the right job if you apply for the wrong one. Go through the job description thoroughly, determine if this is what you want to do, and go for it.
6. Keep the Promise
This is one of the worst practices that needs to be stopped right now. While most employees get promised to have a work-life balance during the interview, they experience something else when they come aboard.
Most employees become frustrated when they find out they have work during the weekends as well. The heavy workloads of many companies require extra hours to get everything done on time. It’s highly recommended not to promise them something you can’t keep later.
Similarly, some candidates brag about their qualifications during the interview that increases the expectations of their employer. You must be honest to avoid a problem in the future.
Conclusion
Whether you are a business leader or a job holder, both of you are equally responsible to keep a balanced work environment.
To get things done properly, there should be an achievable target with regular feedback. Employers should treat their employees with respect.
There should be transparency between the leader and the workers that will help build trust and minimize the chance of discord between them.