Today’s workforce has higher expectations than ever—and rightly so. People want to feel respected, valued, and supported throughout their time with a business. For Irish SMEs competing with larger employers, offering a strong employee experience isn’t just good practice—it’s a strategic advantage.
At PurpleTree, we support small and medium-sized businesses across Ireland in creating practical, effective employee experience strategies that work—without unrealistic budgets or complex systems.
Here’s why the employee experience should be on your radar—and how you can improve it in a real-world, sustainable way.
The employee experience refers to the full journey an individual has with your business—from the first job advert to their final day and beyond. It includes how they’re recruited, welcomed, developed, supported, and treated day to day.
This journey is often described as the employee lifecycle, which includes:
At PurpleTree, we help SMEs assess and improve each stage of that lifecycle—removing friction, boosting morale, and ensuring fairness, compliance, and consistency throughout.
The rise of remote and hybrid working has changed the way we interact with teams. Without daily in-person contact, employers must be more intentional in how they support staff, build culture, and communicate.
Couple that with a tight labour market and increased focus on wellbeing, and it’s clear: businesses that don’t actively manage the employee experience risk losing great people to those that do.
A strong employee experience supports:
Our senior advisors—Mary (Employment Law), Seán (Workplace Relations), and David (Health & Safety)—regularly help clients create workplace frameworks that meet both business needs and employee expectations.
When employees are engaged and clear on expectations, they get more done—and they do it better. This includes having the right tools, clear processes, and realistic targets.
A supportive culture with access to mental health support, open communication, and flexible working options can reduce stress, absenteeism, and burnout.
Employees who feel heard and appreciated are more likely to stay—saving you time and money on hiring and training.
A positive workplace culture can reduce unnecessary absences. When employees feel valued, they’re more likely to show up, speak up, and stay engaged.
Happy employees are more motivated—and that shows in how they treat customers, suppliers, and each other.
No two businesses are the same, but here are some key areas we help SMEs prioritise:
This goes beyond having policies in place. It’s about creating a workplace that’s inclusive, respectful, and free from harassment or bias.
Key actions:
Staff need to see a path forward. Even if your structure is small, showing people how they can learn and grow is key to retention.
First impressions count. A clear, structured onboarding process reduces anxiety, improves productivity, and increases retention.
We help clients build onboarding checklists, welcome packs, and HR Duo workflows so every new hire feels confident from day one.
Hybrid and flexible work arrangements are no longer optional in most sectors. But flexibility must be managed properly to avoid conflict, confusion, or loss of collaboration.
Don’t guess—ask. Pulse surveys, informal check-ins, or engagement reviews help you understand what’s working and what’s not.
We help SMEs implement simple, scalable feedback loops and show how to act on what’s shared—turning feedback into action.
Find out what your team really thinks. Use both open and scored questions. Then share what you’ve learned and what you’ll change.
Check if your current policies reflect how your team actually works. We regularly review employee handbooks, grievance policies, and benefits frameworks to ensure they’re up-to-date, fair, and clearly written.
Offer choices—not just one-size-fits-all perks. Whether it’s extra leave, wellness supports, or training budgets, let employees select what matters most to them.
Clear, honest, and regular communication builds trust. Keep your team updated, and ensure managers are trained to have meaningful 1:1 conversations.
In a smaller team, every person matters. When someone leaves, the impact is immediate. When someone thrives, the benefits ripple throughout your business.
By improving the employee experience, you’re not just making your business a nicer place to work—you’re making it more stable, more productive, and more resilient.
At PurpleTree, we help Irish SMEs:
Contact PurpleTree today to improve the employee experience in your business—without the fluff, overwhelm, or corporate jargon. Whether you need a starting point or a full HR strategy, we’re here to help.
