How Offering Digital Tools Can Empower Employees To Stay Engaged At Work

When employees bring their own devices, a host of benefits follow

Employers have debated the merits of personal devices in the workplace for nearly as long as personal devices have existed. Detractors argue that they can be a distraction. But that same group ignores the very real benefits personal technology can bring to the workplace if employees feel empowered, rather than police, by their employers.
 

No supervisor can argue that personal devices aren’t a huge part of employees’ everyday lives. Roughly 77% of Americans own a smartphone, according to research from the Pew Research Center—up from just 41% in 2011.
 
In the face of this rapid growth, it should come as no surprise that this now-essential tool is a common sight in retail establishments, hospitals, restaurants, offices, and nearly every other U.S. workplace. Employees use them to check traffic on the way to work, manage their schedules and communicate with colleagues. But would they support a policy that allowed them to use these same devices on the job?
 
WorkJam wanted to find out. Our new research report, “Embracing a Bring Your Own Device Policy in the Workplace,” gathered the opinions of more than 1,000 U.S.-based hourly employees and employers across retail, hospitality, logistics, healthcare, and banking. Our findings show that a BYOD policy, paired with the right software or app, can boost employee productivity, increase transparency throughout the company, and improve the employee experience by harnessing the power of employees’ personal devices.

More than two-thirds of employees across industries say they would welcome the opportunity to use their personal mobile devices to access information about scheduling changes and/or corporate training materials. Hospitality workers, who work irregular hours and often need to be aware of last-minute shifts, were most likely to support the policies, at 75%.

With U.S. unemployment rates hovering at near-record lows, employees have a choice when it comes to choosing their employer—and employers can’t afford to be cavalier about turnover. Sixty-one percent of survey participants who are frustrated by their current jobs said scheduling and communication pain points are sending them out the door. And 56% of employees looking for jobs say they are aren’t achieving their potential at work. These issues could be improved with a BYOD policy.

Perhaps the most alarming statistic our study uncovered is that only half of employees believe their employers provide them with the tools they need to succeed. It’s a striking finding that underlies the need for workplaces to closely examine their worker education and support.
 
The survey also makes the solution clear. Sixty-nine percent of employees who would like to use their personal mobile device for work say they believe that with the right application they’d have an easier time picking up shifts that accommodate their schedules, allowing them to increase their income.
 
Offering digital tools can empower frontline employees to stay engaged at work, improve communication channels, modernize scheduling practices, and give employees access to training materials needed to maximize productivity. It’s a strategy that industry leaders are implementing—and one that other employers should explore to remain relevant in an increasingly digital world.

Steven Kramer is the CEO at WorkJam. With 20 years of executive leadership experience driving business results and developing disruptive technologies for the retail industry. In 1999, Steven co-founded iCongo. Steven was part of the Executive Management team and Board Member at hybris. Visit www.workjam.com Connect Steven Kramer Follow @StevenHKramer