{"id":76618,"date":"2026-09-09T15:29:07","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T13:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/?p=76618"},"modified":"2026-09-09T15:58:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T13:58:17","slug":"what-is-employee-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/what-is-employee-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"What is employee experience and why is HR struggling to deliver it?"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/category\/people-leadership\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">People &amp; Leadership<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is employee experience and why is HR struggling to deliver it?\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDiscover the biggest barriers to improving employee experience and practical steps to create more time for people-focused work.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-09-09T15:29:07+02:00\">September 9, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"What is employee experience and why is HR struggling to deliver it?\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/what-is-employee-experience\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/author\/charliebraithwaite\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/Charlie-Braithwaite-Profile-Image-600x600-1-350x350.png\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Charlie Braithwaite\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/Charlie-Braithwaite-Profile-Image-600x600-1-350x350.png 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/Charlie-Braithwaite-Profile-Image-600x600-1.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Charlie Braithwaite<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/employee-experience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Employee experience<\/u><\/a> isn\u2019t a perk or a programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s what work feels like for your people, day after day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HR teams know how much the employee experience matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem for many HR teams is finding enough time to shape it when admin and process work take up so much of the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sage\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/human-resources\/resources\/hr-trends\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em><u>HR and Payroll Leaders\u2019 Report<\/u><\/em><\/a>, based on research with 1,000 HR and people professionals across the UK, Ireland, and South Africa, shows the scale of the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pressure is particularly acute in South Africa, where 69% of HR leaders spend 10 or more hours a week on administration and paperwork, compared with 37% who spend that amount of time supporting employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What\u2019s more, 89% say they face challenges with resource and capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite these challenges, HR is still making time for culture: 67% already spend significant time creating an inclusive, engaging workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, what\u2019s in short supply is the capacity to do more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news is that some of that time can be reclaimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And you don\u2019t need to overhaul your entire HR function to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this article, you\u2019ll learn what employee experience is, why it matters to business performance, what\u2019s getting in the way, and how to build a practical plan for improving it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-sage-container is-constrained\"><div class=\"sage-container__inner\">\n<h3 id=\"h-key-takeaways\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key takeaways<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Employee experience is a business capability, not a perk: <\/strong>it covers everything a person encounters at work, from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/employee-onboarding-process\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">onboarding<\/a> and pay accuracy to how their manager supports them day to day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Culture is already high on HR\u2019s agenda: <\/strong>67% of HR leaders already spend significant time on culture and inclusion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Capacity is the real constraint: <\/strong>89% face challenges with resource and capacity, and 77% spend a lot of time maintaining records, contracts, and policies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Admin takes a disproportionate share of HR\u2019s time: <\/strong>61% of HR leaders spend 10 or more hours a week on admin and paperwork, while 30% spend that long supporting employees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technology frees time for people: <\/strong>among businesses using modern HR technology, 82% say it reduces admin and frees time for strategic work while 77% say it significantly improves employee experience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here\u2019s what we\u2019ll cover:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-employee-experience\" data-level=\"2\">What is employee experience?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-employee-experience-matters-to-your-business\" data-level=\"2\">Why employee experience matters to your business?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-hr-is-struggling-to-deliver-a-better-employee-experience\" data-level=\"2\">Why HR is struggling to deliver a better employee experience<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-to-improve-employee-experience\" data-level=\"2\">How to improve employee experience<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-the-right-systems-give-you-time-back\" data-level=\"2\">How the right systems give you time back<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-turn-insight-into-action\" data-level=\"2\">Turn insight into action<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-frequently-asked-questions-about-the-employee-experience\" data-level=\"2\">Frequently asked questions about the employee experience<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-is-employee-experience\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is employee experience?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employee experience is everything a person encounters throughout their time working for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It starts during the recruitment process, before they\u2019re even technically an employee, and continues through the day-to-day experience of working for your organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How they\u2019re onboarded, whether their pay arrives correctly, how easily they can book leave, and how their manager responds when they raise a problem all contribute to that experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In turn, their experience shapes their engagement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If people feel valued and able to do their jobs without unnecessary friction, they\u2019re more likely to feel engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those everyday operational moments matter more than you might think. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">88% of HR leaders say accurate and timely payroll processes are critical to employee satisfaction and trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A payslip with an error, or a form that takes 4 emails to process, can affect how someone feels about working for you just as much as a wellbeing programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s why employee experience can\u2019t be separated from HR\u2019s day-to-day work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HR touches almost every stage of the employee journey, giving it a major influence over how your culture feels in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Infographic: Employee experience and culture<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Looking to improve employee experience but struggling with limited time and resources? Discover the biggest challenges facing HR teams and practical ways to free up more time for people.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-ec5b7b7e-4867-4f70-91f4-c8ffc6db2f80\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download the Employee Experience and Culture infographic<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/HPF_Static_Danielle_Option1-Final-1440x720-1.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"A woman stands in front of the Sage glowline with a black background.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/HPF_Static_Danielle_Option1-Final-1440x720-1.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-why-employee-experience-matters-to-your-business\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why employee experience matters to your business?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/human-resources\/resources\/hr-trends\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em><u>HR and Payroll Leaders\u2019 Report<\/u><\/em><\/a><em> <\/em>puts it plainly: when people thrive, business thrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employee experience affects much more than how people feel about coming to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It can influence some of the issues HR and business leaders are already trying to solve:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Retention: <\/strong>66% of HR leaders say attracting and retaining people with critical skills is a current challenge. Given the current <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/what-is-the-organisational-skills-gap\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>organisational skills gap<\/u><\/a>, creating an experience that gives good people reasons to stay has become even more important.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wellbeing: <\/strong>65% cite low morale, burnout, or employee wellbeing issues as a current challenge. A great employee experience can help you address the conditions that contribute to those problems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Trust and satisfaction: <\/strong>88% say accurate and timely payroll processes are a critical driver of employee satisfaction and trust. Employee experience isn\u2019t just about culture initiatives. Basic processes matter too.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Business value: <\/strong>87% agree that when HR and payroll work well together, it creates measurable value for the business.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employee experience has a clear business impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The challenge for HR is translating that impact into terms leadership recognises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-why-hr-is-struggling-to-deliver-a-better-employee-experience\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why HR is struggling to deliver a better employee experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The biggest barrier is capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">77% of HR leaders spend a lot of time maintaining accurate records, contracts, and policies, while 75% say the same about compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And 89% face challenges with resource and capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That pressure is clear when you look at how HR spends its week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">69% of HR leaders spend 10 or more hours a week on processes, while 61% spend that long on administration and paperwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just 30% spend 10 or more hours supporting employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask where they\u2019d like<em> <\/em>to spend their time and the picture changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">58% would like to spend 10 or more hours a week on strategy, 50% on technology and AI, and 37% supporting employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By comparison, just 31% want to spend that much time on processes and 24% on admin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pattern is clear: HR leaders want to shift more of their time away from process and admin work and towards strategy, technology, and people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That matters for employee experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When operational work consumes so much capacity, there\u2019s less room for the work that directly shapes it, from stronger onboarding to meaningful check-ins and spotting signs of disengagement early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pressure affects HR teams too. HR workload challenges are now the norm, according to our research: 71% say their workload has increased compared with last year, while 52% feel a sense of burnout in their current role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p><em>&#8220;I wish to create a truly inclusive and empowering workplace culture where every employee feels valued, heard and supported.\u201d<\/em><\/p><cite>Chief of staff, hospitality sector, South Africa<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Infographic: Employee experience and culture<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Looking to improve employee experience but struggling with limited time and resources? Discover the biggest challenges facing HR teams and practical ways to free up more time for people.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-ec5b7b7e-4867-4f70-91f4-c8ffc6db2f80\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download the Employee Experience and Culture infographic<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/HPF_Static_Danielle_Option1-Final-1440x720-1.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"A woman stands in front of the Sage glowline with a black background.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/HPF_Static_Danielle_Option1-Final-1440x720-1.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-how-to-improve-employee-experience\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to improve employee experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first step in any successful employee experience strategy is freeing up more time to focus on your people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-1-nbsp-automate-repetitive-admin\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>1.&nbsp; Automate repetitive admin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start by checking what your existing tools can already do before you think about buying something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Features such as email filters, saved templates, automated reporting, and workflow automation can all reduce repetitive manual work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What\u2019s more, HR automation and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/what-is-ai-in-hr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>AI in HR tools<\/u><\/a> can also help speed up the process of completing routine tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pick one recurring task to start with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look for work that follows the same steps each time, such as routine data entry, reporting, or simple employee requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Automating even one process can begin to free up more time for people-focused work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-practical-actions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical actions:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>List the 5 repetitive tasks that take up most of your time each month.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check which ones your existing systems can automate or simplify.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose 1 to automate this month and track how much time you save.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-2-nbsp-streamline-routine-processes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>2.&nbsp; Streamline routine processes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not everything needs to be automated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some routine work can be handled more efficiently, or even delegated to someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tasks such as scheduling or answering basic policy questions don\u2019t always need senior HR involvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where appropriate, redistribute them across the team so experienced HR staff have more time for work that needs their judgement, such as coaching or conflict resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also helps to protect dedicated time for admin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rather than switching constantly between paperwork and people-focused work, batch routine tasks into set blocks during the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-practical-actions-0\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical actions:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Set specific times for routine admin rather than handling it throughout the day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>List routine tasks that don\u2019t need senior HR involvement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Give employees and managers self-service options for simple HR requests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-3-nbsp-build-manager-capability\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>3.&nbsp; Build manager capability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employees experience much of working life through their manager, so managers have a big influence on how work feels day to day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HR can help by giving them practical tools they can actually use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That might mean a simple structure for 1-to-1s, clear guidance on when to raise a wellbeing concern, or enough policy knowledge to answer common questions without sending everything back to HR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This supports employees and takes pressure off your team at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Managers can deal with more day-to-day issues themselves, while HR has more time to focus on work that needs specialist input.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learning how to choose managers who can get the most from their teams is essential for improving employee experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-practical-actions-1\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical actions:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Give managers a simple template for regular 1-to-1 conversations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build 1 wellbeing check-in into the monthly management rhythm.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create a short FAQ for the policy questions managers hear most often.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-4-nbsp-make-engagement-part-of-the-routine\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>4.&nbsp; Make engagement part of the routine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employee experience improves through consistent action, not occasional initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The aim is to build regular opportunities to listen to employees, recognise good work, and respond to concerns into the way you already operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That doesn\u2019t need to mean another major programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep feedback simple enough to collect and act on regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A short quarterly pulse survey, for example, can help you spot changes between larger employee engagement and culture surveys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using the right employee engagement survey questions will help you gather actionable insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-practical-actions-2\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical actions:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Run a short quarterly pulse survey between larger engagement surveys.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Share what you\u2019ve changed in response to employee feedback.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use existing team meetings to recognise employee contributions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Infographic: Employee experience and culture<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Looking to improve employee experience but struggling with limited time and resources? Discover the biggest challenges facing HR teams and practical ways to free up more time for people.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-ec5b7b7e-4867-4f70-91f4-c8ffc6db2f80\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download the Employee Experience and Culture infographic<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/HPF_Static_Danielle_Option1-Final-1440x720-1.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"A woman stands in front of the Sage glowline with a black background.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/HPF_Static_Danielle_Option1-Final-1440x720-1.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-how-the-right-systems-give-you-time-back\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the right systems give you time back<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Changing how you work can free up some capacity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the systems behind your HR processes matter too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">86% of HR leaders say investment in modern HR technology would have a significant impact on tackling their challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And among businesses that have already invested, 82% say their technology reduces admin and frees time for strategic work, while 77% say it significantly improves the employee experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/integrated-payroll-hr-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Connecting HR and payroll<\/a> can help further by reducing the manual work involved in moving information between processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That matters when HR teams are already stretched for time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal isn\u2019t simply to automate more. It\u2019s to spend less time on repetitive work and more time on the people and priorities that need your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-turn-insight-into-action\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Turn insight into action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Improving employee experience starts with finding the hours to work on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Audit 1 week of your time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Track what you actually do, then sort each activity into strategic, operational, and administrative work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soon, it will be pretty clear where you spend most of your time, and what you should take off your list moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many South African organisations are already responding to these pressures strategically: 67% are investing in workforce planning and 70% are upskilling or reskilling existing employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To make lasting improvements, you\u2019ll need to build HR strategy from business strategy and understand how to create an HR strategy that supports your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-want-to-find-out-more\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to find out more?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Download the <a href=\"#gate-ec5b7b7e-4867-4f70-91f4-c8ffc6db2f80\">employee experience infographic<\/a> for a practical guide you can share with your team.<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-sage-faq\">\n\t\n<h2 id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions-about-the-employee-experience\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions about the employee experience<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-items\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-f8dc9242\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-what-is-employee-experience-0\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is employee experience?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employee experience covers everything a person encounters throughout their relationship with your organisation, from:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>recruitment and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/employee-onboarding-process\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">onboarding<\/a> to payroll,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>manager interactions,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>development,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and day-to-day HR processes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These experiences shape how people feel about working for you.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-03e5940b\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-what-is-the-difference-between-employee-experience-and-employee-engagement\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the difference between employee experience and employee engagement?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employee experience is what happens to people at work.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employee engagement describes how connected, motivated, and committed they feel as a result.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Improving everyday experiences can therefore help create the conditions for stronger engagement.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-1a48d47e\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-why-is-employee-experience-important\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is employee experience important?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employee experience matters because it shapes how people feel about working for your organisation and can influence:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>retention,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>wellbeing,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>trust,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and engagement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When employees have a better day-to-day experience, they\u2019re more likely to feel valued and supported.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-84c53a5b\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-how-can-hr-improve-the-employee-experience\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can HR improve the employee experience?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start by freeing up more time for people-focused work.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look for repetitive admin you can automate, streamline routine processes, give managers practical support, and create regular opportunities to gather and act on employee feedback.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider developing a human-centric employee value proposition to strengthen your approach.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-11875a83\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-how-can-hr-technology-improve-employee-experience\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can HR technology improve employee experience?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/5-ways-technology-is-changing-the-face-of-the-hr-function\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HR technology<\/a> can reduce repetitive admin and give HR teams more time for higher-value work.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among businesses in Sage\u2019s research that have invested in modern HR systems:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>82% say the technology reduces admin and frees time for strategic work,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>while 77% say it significantly improves employee experience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding HR strategies for the future of work can help you make the most of these investments.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice enewsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get a roundup of our best business advice in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-84fe79b5-668d-41f8-a0cc-6229018c4ac9\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1181404518-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1181404518-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/tag\/business-intelligence\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbusiness intelligence\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/tag\/business-management\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbusiness management\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/tag\/business-strategy\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBusiness Strategy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/tag\/employee-benefits\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\temployee benefits\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/tag\/hr-payroll\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHR &amp; Payroll\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-72952 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters category-strategy-legal-operations tag-business-intelligence tag-electronic-payments tag-financial-insights tag-international-payments tag-making-financial-decisions tag-payment-processing tag-profit-loss tag-revenue business_type-small-business card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-962338720-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-962338720-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-962338720-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-962338720-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-09-03T12:19:47+02:00\">September 3, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">1 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/how-to-write-an-invoice\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHow to write an invoice and what to include\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tLearn how to create invoices to get paid on time with our invoice cheat sheet. Discover what to include, invoice types, common payment terms, and tips to avoid overdue invoices.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-73705 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-people-leadership tag-business-management tag-employee-benefits tag-hr-payroll tag-news-insights tag-trending-topics business_type-small-business business_type-medium-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/what-is-employee-self-service\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/07\/resize-1675x1275-44-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Woman in audience raising her hand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/07\/resize-1675x1275-44-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/07\/resize-1675x1275-44-768x585.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/07\/resize-1675x1275-44-1064x810.jpg 1064w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-09-03T09:00:00+02:00\">September 3, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">6 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tEmpower your team with employee self-service\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-68990 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-business-planning category-compliance tag-bookkeeping tag-business-strategy tag-compliance tag-tax business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/do-these-3-things-before-launching-your-small-business\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/02\/iStock-1134062212-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/02\/iStock-1134062212-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/02\/iStock-1134062212-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/02\/iStock-1134062212-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-09-02T13:48:52+02:00\">September 2, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">1 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tDo these 3 things before launching your small business\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-72451 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations category-trends-insights tag-business-intelligence tag-business-management tag-financial-insights tag-making-financial-decisions tag-profit-loss tag-staying-competitive tag-trending-topics business_type-small-business business_type-medium-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/what-is-depreciation\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1177851223-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1177851223-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1177851223-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1177851223-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-09-02T13:44:45+02:00\">September 2, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">9 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tA guide to understanding depreciation\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-69417 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-compliance category-money-matters category-strategy-legal-operations tag-compliance tag-hr-payroll tag-regulation tag-tax business_type-small-business business_type-medium-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/checklist-preparing-for-and-processing-tax-year-end\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1400801126-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1400801126-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1400801126-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1400801126-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-27T13:00:00+02:00\">August 27, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">6 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tChecklist: Preparing for and processing Tax Year-End\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the biggest barriers to improving employee experience and practical steps to create more time for people-focused work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1926,"featured_media":76622,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_page_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_article_type":"","_sage_video":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"[{\"keyword\":\"what is employee experience\",\"score\":81},{\"keyword\":\"improve employee experience\",\"score\":81},{\"keyword\":\"employee engagement and culture\",\"score\":61},{\"keyword\":\"employee 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