C OVER
STORY
Employee priorities have changed; so are talent strategies
48
As employee expectations change, talent priorities must be incorporated into the business strategy so as to better attract and retain talent. Maria Zhang, Senior Director of Human Resources for Juniper Networks in the APAC region, tells us about what's changing and what companies can do to adapt By Mint Kang
C
all it the Great Resignation, Great Attrition, or Great Redefinition – it amounts to the same thing, which is a very large-scale shift in the way employees view their jobs. Current and potential employees alike seek better quality of work-life; they consider factors such as flexibility and well-being to be essentials; they even scrutinise the mission and values of potential employers. In an exclusive interaction with People Matters, Maria Zhang, Senior Director, Human Resources, APAC, at network technology multinational Juniper Networks, talks about the changes she has observed in employee expectations and how | April 2022
companies can adjust their value proposition to keep up. Here's what she shared with us.
What do you see as the biggest changes in expectations – what are employees, consciously or not, demanding to see in their jobs these days? The global pandemic, which has accelerated hybrid working, has shown organisations and employees that work can be equally, if not more productive, when done remotely. As a result, hybrid work arrangements have emerged as one of the top priorities of today's employees.
In a recent IDC study, more than 56% of the employees in Asia Pacific want flexible work that allows them to work both in the office and remotely, even after the pandemic. It will be critical for organisations to ensure that a solid Return to Office strategy is in place for those who wish to return while also providing flexibility to those who prefer to work remotely. Aside from hybrid work arrangements, organisations are seeing an increase in demand for workplace cultures that prioritise employee well-being, which has expanded beyond physical well-being to include