Employees who work in digital workplaces are not only more productive, but are also more motivated, have higher job satisfaction, and report an overall better sense of well-being, according to a new global study from networking technology provider Aruba.
The study, based on a survey of 7,000 workers worldwide conducted in April and May 2018, revealed “a clear chasm” in employee performance and sentiment between more advanced digital workplaces and those that employ digital technology to a lesser degree.
“Digital Revolutionaries”- employees identified as those who work in fully-enabled digital workplaces where new workplace technologies are in widespread use - were 51 percent more likely to have strong job satisfaction, and 43 percent more likely to be positive about their work-life balance than “Digital Laggards,” those who have less access to workplace technology.
The Revolutionary employees were also 60 percent more likely to say they are motivated at work, and 91 percent more likely to praise their company’s vision.
About three quarters of Revolutionaries (73 percent) reported a positive impact to their productivity and 70 percent cited improved collaboration thanks to digital technologies, vs. 55 percent of laggards.
While automation can be perceived as a threat to job security, the research found that there was widespread enthusiasm for it, with 71 percent of respondents saying they would welcome a fully automated workplace in the future, allowing organizations to build smarter, more effective working environments.
While the benefits of digital workplaces are wide-ranging, the study also revealed that cyber security is a challenge for employers. Although employees reported higher levels of cyber security awareness (52 percent think about security often or daily), they also admitted to taking more risks with company data and devices, with 70 percent admitting to risky behaviors such as sharing passwords and devices.
