Dive Brief:
- As work becomes increasingly digital and fast-paced, employees crave a people-first workplace, according to Hilton's inaugural workplace trends report, which featured research from Ipsos and Morning Consult.
- Common themes among the surveyed workers included anxiety around artificial intelligence, a desire to return to a physical workplace and the need for mentorship opportunities, per the research.
- The findings come as several hotel companies embrace AI and use the technology across their operations, leading to questions about where the line should be drawn when it comes to AI.
Dive Insight:
Hilton's report highlighted the importance of human-led factors as a driver of worker productivity and satisfaction. The report surveyed U.S. workers across the board, and pointed to hospitality as a model for other industries seeking to strengthen their workplace culture
Furthermore, work environments are currently disconnected, Hilton said, and as a result employees are looking for jobs where leaders actively foster a sense of community.
“This report tells us that when workers feel supported, stable and encouraged to grow — that there's real tangible value for business,” Christine Maginnis, senior vice president and global head of talent and human resources strategy at Hilton, told Hotel Dive.
Maginnis added that despite technological advances at work, what people need from their workplace hasn’t changed and that human connection is “actually a competitive advantage.”
However, when it comes to AI, the majority of workers are still hesitant, with 52% saying they feel anxious about AI’s impact on their jobs, per the report. At the same time, 55% are looking to their employers for AI training and upskilling to help them navigate this new landscape.
“The antidote to anxiety is going to be training and permission to test and learn — making AI a source of confidence and growth, rather than something to be afraid of,” Maginnis said.
Transparency can also go a long way toward making employers feel more comfortable about AI and helping assuage worker anxiety, she added.
Other industries could learn from the hospitality industry, which is unique for adopting a “host mentality” and anticipating the needs of others, Maginnis said.
“What we believe makes our culture special can make any culture special,” she said.
The report also found that the majority of workers “see the value in coming together in person,” with 96% of Generation Z workers saying they see value in coming to the office.
According to Maginnis, the desire to be in-office is partially fueled by growing feelings of loneliness. Nearly 50% of early-career workers said they experience workplace loneliness, per the report, and Maginnis said this correlates to young people experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic at “pivotal ages.”
“I think you start to realize that there are a lot of organic growth opportunities and moments that come with working alongside other people in person,” Maginnis added.
In-person mentorship is also identified as a positive among workers, she said, with 74% saying mentorship opportunities are important, per the report. Superficially, having face-to-face interactions with mentors that “aren’t necessarily curated or planned,” but rather spontaneous and organic, is an example of something that can make workers feel valued and like they belong, Maginnis said.
To that end, Hilton’s report offers suggestions for management practices leaders can use to strengthen their workplaces. These include activating cross-functional task forces; designing intentional, shared spaces to build community; providing AI tools and training; and creating a workplace holiday to reward and incentivize employees’ good work.
“The data shows that when people feel supported, engaged, taken care of, then they deliver better results at work,” Maginnis said
