How does employee experience drive better customer experience?
A happy team creates happy customers. Learn how improving employee experience through rewards and a strong employee experience platform can elevate customer satisfaction and loyalty across the journey.
Pada halaman ini
- Why are customer service employees stressed?
- How does good employee experience drive customer experience?
- The right solution: Reward, recognize, and engage
- When customer experience slips, empowered employees step in
- Why rewards work better than apologies (or discounts)
- Skip the discounts, invest in loyalty
- Pemikiran akhir
This blog highlights the stressed condition of the customer service employees and why motivating and valuing them is important. Believe it or not, employee experience drives customer experience.
Itulah sebabnya memberi ganjaran kepada mereka dengan hadiah peribadi boleh muncul sebagai motivator yang berkesan dan menggembirakan.
Walaupun keletihan dan perolehan adalah realiti yang menyala untuk semua peranan pekerjaan, mereka telah menjadi sifat kedua pusat hubungan dan peranan sokongan pelanggan.
↠ 74% of agents are at risk for burnout, and 30% of those individuals are at severe risk.
↠ 58% of contact center workers were significantly more stressed, 63% more depressed, and 34% percent more anxious than people in other professions.
Selain itu, penyelidik juga mendapati bahawa kebanyakan pekerja pusat hubungan mempunyai tabiat makan yang buruk dan bergantung kepada merokok sebagai cepat melarikan diri dari tekanan. Dalam kes-kes yang teruk, mereka mungkin merasa terasing secara sosial daripada keluarga dan rakan-rakan kerana tekanan yang berkaitan dengan kerja menggunakannya sepenuhnya, dan mereka sering bekerja tanpa henti.
Ini adalah masalah yang serius untuk perniagaan. Perhatikan bahawa ejen pusat hubungan anda bertindak sebagai duta jenama semasa beratus-ratus dan beribu-ribu interaksi pelanggan mereka.
If agents get botched up by the ever-rising demands from customers, it affects their call quality. In fact, there is a 40% productivity drop and 50% more errors made while multitasking in the domain of customer service jobs.
And the worst part is, if they fail to deliver stellar service expectations, customers don’t think twice before taking their business elsewhere. 92% of consumers have said that an agent’s perceived happiness affects their personal customer experience.
Oleh itu, untuk memastikan perkhidmatan pelanggan di atas tanda, sangat penting untuk memahami sumber tekanan ejen dan cara mengatasinya.
Why are customer service employees stressed?
Here are some reasons that highlight why customer service employees are stressed:
1. Kekaburan peranan
Amidst the pressure of improving operational efficiency, maximizing customer satisfaction, and collecting crucial customer information, a contact center agent role is a crucible of conflicting demands.
Bagaimanakah anda dapat menyelesaikan masalah dengan cepat dan memastikan pelanggan merasa dihargai secara individu? Bagaimanakah anda boleh mengurangkan barisan pelanggan dalam panggilan sambil mendokumentasikan setiap interaksi dengan teliti? KPI yang seolah-olah bercanggah ini memberikan kenaikan meteorik kepada tekanan.
2. Jangkaan prestasi yang tidak realistik
Ejen perlu pantas dan sangat cekap. Untuk rezeki dan pertumbuhan pekerjaan, mereka mahukan ulasan positif daripada pelanggan hampir sepanjang masa. Seiring dengan ini, mereka perlu menyokong syarikat anda walaupun ia telah menjejaskan pelanggan.
Lebih kerap daripada, metrik dan penilaian ini tidak mengambil kira keadaan peribadi atau emosi. Akhirnya, tekanan mencapai kemuncaknya, menjadikannya sangat sukar untuk mengekalkan semangat pekerja.
3. Konflik emosi
A study published in the Indian Journal of Community Medicine discovered that agents’ stress mainly gets triggered by the need to hide emotions, as agents are expected to record every customer interaction with great positivity, regardless of their own feelings at that particular moment.
Ia memerlukan tenaga kerja emosi yang besar untuk menggubal permainan positif paksa apabila semangat anda sendiri berada di nadir, menimbulkan kemarahan, kepahitan, dan kekecewaan yang tidak aktif.
4. Upah yang tidak kacak
Dengan hanya rambut di atas pampasan minimum, gaji setiap jam yang diberikan untuk peranan perkhidmatan pelanggan boleh menjadi sangat demotivating. Apabila anda berfikir bahawa anda berbaring di tiang totem bawah, ketakutan bahawa satu kesilapan akan membebankan pekerjaan anda sentiasa berlarutan. Ia meletakkan ejen ke dalam mod kelangsungan hidup di tempat kerja, menjadikannya tidak selamat. Ini sahaja menimbulkan timbunan tekanan.
How does good employee experience drive customer experience?
De-stressing customer service employees are more engaged and deliver a great customer experience.
A Deloitte survey found that 80% of respondents rated Employee Experience as important or very important for business strategy in delivering great CX. It’s not surprising since it’s the employee experience that owns the customer experience.
Apabila pekerja merasakan bahawa mereka dilayan dengan betul, benar-benar terlibat dalam kerja mereka, dan mencari makna dan kepuasan yang lebih mendalam dalam bagaimana peranan mereka menyumbang kepada tujuan yang lebih besar, mereka melampaui norma untuk membawa perasaan itu kepada pelanggan.
She mentioned in Forbes that companies that lead in customer experience have 60% more engaged employees. Employee Engagement Benchmark Study substantiated Morgan’s claim by finding out that customer experience leaders have more engaged employees than organizations who send out poor customer experiences.
Semakin dekat anda melihat, semakin mudah untuk mencari ikatan yang tidak dapat dipisahkan antara pengalaman pekerja dan pengalaman pelanggan, tanpa mengira industri dan segmen. Sebabnya disenaraikan di bawah.
1. Mereka menjalin hubungan yang lebih baik dan lebih mendalam dengan pelanggan
Hubungan pekerja-pelanggan yang lebih kuat dibina di atas tiga tiang: Kehadiran, perhatian, dan sikap.
Apabila pekerja gembira di tempat kerja, dia tidak hanya menjauhkan diri daripada ketidakhadiran (kehadiran)—tetapi lebih cenderung untuk menyokong keperluan pelanggan dengan cepat (perhatian) dan dengan getaran positif berjangkit (sikap).
This efficiency, coupled with positivity, gets carried forward to customers, resulting in heightened customer happiness and loyalty. One can understand from Gallup's assertion that companies with happier employees show 147% higher earnings per share than their competitors.
2. Inovasi dan kreativiti melompat masuk dengan kebahagiaan
Interaksi pekerja-pelanggan tidak selalunya skrip skrip. Apabila kita melihat perubahan besar dalam pilihan pelanggan dan mod interaksi, inovasi dan kreativiti menjadi ujian litmus pengalaman dan kepuasan pelanggan.
This proportion rises to 82% with happy employees. The clarion call, then, is clear: Though unhappy employees may deliver acceptable customer experience, they are misfit to bring innovation in their work.
It is very much in alliance with common sense. If employees are energized and motivated at every moment of their work experiences, they will stay around for longer durations. The more they stick around, the more specialization they develop, along with deeper knowledge of how best to serve customers.
3. Mereka sentiasa memastikan anda dalam cahaya yang lebih baik
Seorang pekerja yang gembira, yang benar-benar gembira, bertolak ansur terhadap beberapa masalah dari sisi organisasinya sendiri. Dia benar-benar mendoakan pencapaian yang memeningkan bagi syarikat itu. Hasilnya, ia melicinkan kelebihan kemungkinan grump atau sulkiness dalam kewujudan keseluruhannya dalam interaksi organisasi.
Hubungan yang paling positif dengan organisasi ini membuatnya pernah menyedari prestij dan reputasi jenama anda, menjadikannya tidak meninggalkan batu yang tidak terganggu dalam menyampaikan jenama anda dalam cahaya yang paling positif dan menerangi kepada pelanggan anda.
Seperti kata pepatah, air pasang tinggi mengangkat semua bot, kapal, dan kapal. Apabila organisasi mencipta pengalaman pekerja yang hebat, segala-galanya dan semua orang yang berkaitan dengan syarikat memenangi Pekerja, pelanggan, pemimpin, eksekutif, dan pemegang saham.
The right solution: Reward, recognize, and engage
Since stressed-out customer service employees are battling at two fronts, namely emotional and economic, creating a reward and recognition system that addresses both the evils and thereby values the employees is a must.
It’ll also motivate other employees to become top performers like their colleagues. In fact, a Gallup survey mentions that 74% of those who say their team receives praise also strongly agree that they have the feeling that what [they are] doing at work is valuable and useful. With the instilling of a sense of right purpose, your CX team will understand and feel how integral and valuable they are to your business.
By distributing experiences in the form of gift cards, you can gift me-time to your most stressed-out employees.
Sesungguhnya, ini adalah saat ganjaran dan pengiktirafan yang membangkitkan pekerja CX anda rasa bahawa anda menghargai mereka dengan mendalam, dan sumbangan mereka berkadar terus dengan garis bawah syarikat. Ia, kemudian, merangka kebenaran aksiomatik: Pekerja yang lebih bahagia = pelanggan yang lebih bahagia.
Reward ideas to engage customer service employees
Customer service employees are the frontline ambassadors of your brand. Rewarding them with thoughtful, relevant gifts not only boosts morale but also improves performance and retention. Here are categorized reward ideas designed to engage and appreciate customer service teams:
Merchandise:
High-quality merchandise provides both utility and a sense of recognition. It’s practical, memorable, and aligns well with daily work-life needs.
- Premium wireless headphones – Enhance focus and comfort during long shifts.
- Ergonomic office accessories – Improve posture and productivity at workstations.
- Smart desk lamps or organizers – Blend function and style for better workspace vibes.
Experiences:
Experiential rewards help employees de-stress and feel valued by creating lasting memories outside of work.
- Spa day or wellness retreat – Promote relaxation and mental well-being.
- Cooking or art workshops – Encourage creativity and work-life balance.
- Local cultural experiences or city tours – Great for weekend rejuvenation.
Prepaid cards:
Financial flexibility or the chance to give back makes employees feel trusted and socially empowered with prepaid cards.
- Visa or Mastercard prepaid cards – Spendable anywhere, giving full control to the recipient.
- Reloadable transport cards – Support daily commute needs in urban areas.
Swag:
Company-branded swag fosters a sense of belonging and pride while also being functional and stylish.
- Custom jackets or hoodies – Perfect for team spirit and casual wear.
- Branded water bottles or mugs – Daily-use items with a personalized touch.
- Laptop sleeves or tote bags – Practical, sleek, and proudly branded.
Top-ups & subscriptions:
Digital subscriptions and top-ups are convenient, instantly delivered, and cater to everyday needs.
- Mobile recharge vouchers – Keep employees connected effortlessly.
- Streaming platform access – Ideal for unwinding after work.
- Food delivery subscriptions – Take care of lunch or dinner breaks with ease.
Food & grocery:
Food-related rewards bring immediate satisfaction and are ideal for celebrating everyday wins or festive occasions.
- Gourmet snack boxes – Delightful, ready-to-enjoy treats.
- Online grocery vouchers – Help simplify their shopping needs.
- Meal delivery credits – A convenient and appreciated break-time solution.
Health & wellness:
Supporting well-being shows you care about your employees’ long-term physical and emotional health.
- Fitness tracker bands – Encourage movement and self-care.
- Mental wellness app access – Support mindfulness, sleep, and stress reduction.
- Healthy snack subscriptions – Offer a delicious yet nutritious gifting option.
Plum’s rewards platform doesn’t just act as a stress eliminator and ultimate motivator for employees but makes them a thoroughly engaged resource - resulting in an enhanced bottom line.
Riled up by the pandemic-forced work-from-home, HealthKart’s employees were feeling low, stressed, and disengaged at the workplace. This reduced employee engagement impacted employee productivity severely. HealthKart integrated Plum’s reward platform and soon observed a whopping 30% rise in employee engagement.
The main reason for it is Plum's platform doesn’t include only the traditional top-down recognition and reward methodology. It enables peer-to-peer recognition, enhancing camaraderie among the team members.
When customer experience slips, empowered employees step in
Even the best-designed customer journeys can encounter friction. A delayed delivery, a billing error, or a misunderstood policy—no matter how refined your systems, human or technical missteps are inevitable. In these critical moments, it’s your frontline employees who serve as the bridge between disappointment and delight.
But here's the key: for customer service employees to consistently turn tense situations around, they need to feel supported and valued themselves. When employees are empowered—through recognition, trust, and internal rewards—they’re far more likely to extend that same sense of care to your customers.
A Gallup survey found that 74% of employees who receive frequent praise feel that their work is valuable and useful. That sense of meaning isn’t just an internal morale boost—it directly affects how those employees interact with your customers, especially during challenging moments.
Why rewards work better than apologies (or discounts)
When a customer has had a frustrating experience, simply saying "sorry" is no longer enough. Even offering a generic discount often falls short—especially if customers feel it’s transactional or impersonal. What creates true emotional recovery is a gesture that feels thoughtful and surprising.
“When customers complain, give them something that compensates for the discomfort. If they feel underserved, offer a token of appreciation to make it right.”
Research backs this up. Harvard Business Review notes that surprise changes behavior and deepens emotional bonds between brands and customers. Gifting creates a moment of unexpected delight—turning a negative experience into a brand-defining moment.
Gifts like digital gift cards, experience vouchers, or food delivery credits feel more personal than a coupon code. They’re perceived as tokens of appreciation, not just damage control. In fact, 94% of customers who received a gift or special recognition said they felt more positive about the brand, and over a third said they’d increase their purchases.
The employee experience connection:
The secret to delivering this kind of recovery consistently? Equipping and encouraging employees to act. When your customer service team has access to a pre-approved catalog of gifts, rewards, and digital experiences, they don’t have to escalate issues or wait for approvals—they can instantly delight customers on the spot.
But that ability stems from trust, and trust comes from experience. When employees themselves are regularly recognized—whether through peer-to-peer shoutouts or meaningful incentives, they understand the power of feeling seen. They become more emotionally invested in passing that feeling along to your customers.
Skip the discounts, invest in loyalty
When it comes to delighting disappointed customers, the instinctive fallback is often a discount. While this can be effective as a one-off gesture—especially for high-value purchases, overusing it can be damaging in the long run. Here's why:
1. Financial fallout
Frequent discounting eats into margins and weakens overall revenue. It may feel like a quick fix, but gifts or fixed-threshold perks like free shipping are often more cost-efficient.
2. Customer experience consequences
Discount fatigue is real. When customers are constantly exposed to deals, they become desensitized and start waiting for bigger, better offers, delaying action instead of encouraging it.
Eventually, the thrill of a 10% or 20% discount wears off when they expect 40% just around the corner. This not only kills urgency but also undermines customer trust.
3. Brand perception decline
Consistent discounts can erode your brand’s value. Over time, customers begin associating your business with cheapness rather than quality. Once you’re labeled a “discount brand,” it’s incredibly hard to reverse that perception—no matter how innovative or premium your offerings may be.
The better alternative? Thoughtful, surprise rewards. They reinforce your brand’s care and character, build stronger emotional connections, and help restore trust without sacrificing your margins or image.
Combine this with a well-structured loyalty program—where customers earn points for actions like purchases, referrals, or feedback—and you create a consistent reason for them to return.
Add in exclusive perks like early bird discounts, member-only sales, or first access to new products, and you're no longer just winning back loyalty—you're building it into the fabric of your customer experience.
Pemikiran akhir
In the world of modern CX, happy employees aren’t just a nice-to-have—they’re the secret weapon behind loyal, delighted customers. When your team feels empowered, valued, and recognized, they don’t just resolve issues, they build relationships.
That’s where a smart digital rewards platform like Xoxoday Plum makes a powerful difference. Xoxoday Plum enables you to integrate personalized, meaningful rewards into key moments of the customer journey—whether it’s resolving a service issue, collecting feedback, or celebrating loyalty milestones. By recognizing customers in real time and at the right touchpoints, you enhance satisfaction, deepen relationships, and drive long-term brand advocacy.
Ready to turn every customer interaction into a memorable experience?
Book a free demo with Xoxoday Plum and discover how rewards can redefine your customer experience strategy.