5 Common Employee Experience Challenges We Solve for Our Clients

Employee experience (EX) has become one of the defining business priorities of our time. The connection between how people feel and how well they perform is now widely recognised, yet organisations still struggle to deliver experiences that live up to employee expectations.

In World Changers 2025, scarlettabbott’s annual insight report, 78% of HR leaders agreed that poor EX directly harms business outcomes, while two in five said it’s become more difficult to deliver best-in-class EX over the past three years.

That’s where an experienced partner comes in. scarlettabbott collaborates with organisations across sectors to tackle the most persistent barriers - from leadership misalignment to technology overwhelm - helping leaders move from insight to impact.

Here are five of the most common EX challenges our clients face, and how we help them overcome them in 2025.

1. Bridging the Gap Between Insight and Action

Many organisations invest heavily in employee listening - engagement surveys, pulse checks, focus groups - yet struggle to turn the feedback into meaningful change. According to World Changers 2025, one in five HR leaders admit they find it difficult to translate survey data into action.

This creates frustration on both sides: employees feel unheard, and leaders lose confidence in the value of listening exercises.

At scarlettabbott, we help clients bridge that gap by:

• Building clear frameworks that connect survey findings to strategic priorities.
• Identifying key insights that reveal root causes, not just surface symptoms.
• Supporting internal comms teams with tailored storytelling that turns data into dialogue.
• Creating measurement plans to track change over time.

When feedback leads to visible action, trust grows - and so does engagement.

2. Reconnecting Leadership and Employees

Even the best strategies fail without leadership alignment. World Changers 2025 highlights that misalignment between employee needs and leadership priorities is one of the biggest barriers to better EX.

In many organisations, this disconnect isn’t intentional. Leaders may understand the importance of EX but struggle to translate it into day-to-day behaviour.

Middle managers, in particular, often sit in what the report calls the “frozen middle” - caught between competing expectations with limited support. scarlettabbott helps organisations bridge this divide through:

• Leadership enablement programmes that focus on communication, empathy, and trust.
• Strategic narrative development, ensuring a consistent message from the boardroom to the front line.
• Manager toolkits and storytelling resources to empower the middle layer with clarity and confidence.

3. Embedding Company Values That Truly Live

Values are the foundation of culture - but only if they’re lived, not listed. In scarlettabbott’s 2025 research, 91% of respondents said values are key to shaping employee experience, yet only one in three felt their organisation’s values were genuinely embedded in everyday work.

When there’s a mismatch between stated values and real behaviour, cynicism grows quickly. Employees notice when leadership messages don’t align with lived experience.

scarlettabbott works with organisations to bring values to life through practical activation:

• Rearticulating outdated values to reflect current business direction and employee sentiment.
• Designing activation campaigns that turn values into everyday habits.
• Co-creating recognition frameworks that reward people for living the values.

4. Navigating the Return-to-Office and Flexibility Debate

The return-to-office conversation remains one of the most divisive workplace topics. While 60% of respondents in World Changers 2025 believe remote workers enjoy a better experience, 58% of organisations plan to increase in-office mandates, and 59% say those mandates are hurting morale.

Rigid policies risk undoing years of progress in flexibility and trust. Employees want connection and belonging - but they also want choice. scarlettabbott helps organisations find the right balance through:

• Data-led employee listening, exploring how different work models affect culture and performance.
• Leader communication strategies, ensuring that any change is introduced with empathy and clarity.
• Employee-centred hybrid models, designed around inclusion, wellbeing, and productivity.

5. Integrating Technology Without Losing the Human Touch

Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation promise greater efficiency, but they also raise concerns about trust and connection. World Changers 2025 found that 93% of HR decision-makers have concerns about AI’s impact on the workplace, from data security to job displacement.

The challenge isn’t whether to adopt AI - it’s how to do so responsibly, without diluting the human experience that defines your culture. scarlettabbott’s approach focuses on integration with integrity. That means:

• Running AI readiness workshops that explore both opportunity and risk.
• Helping leaders communicate transparently about new technology.
• Designing human-centred digital experiences that empower employees rather than replace them.

The Broader Picture: Why These Challenges Matter

Each of these issues - from leadership gaps to hybrid tensions - points to a broader truth. Employee experience is no longer a standalone HR initiative. It’s the ecosystem through which organisational success is achieved. scarlettabbott’s research shows that:

• 79% of HR leaders believe poor EX damages business performance.
• 85% see leadership buy-in as critical to achieving the right outcomes.
• Only 7% of leaders say EX isn’t yet a business priority.

These statistics prove that EX is not an abstract concept - it’s a measurable driver of productivity, retention, and innovation. When employees feel connected to their organisation’s purpose and values, business results follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of organisations does scarlettabbott work with?

We partner with organisations of all sizes and sectors - from global corporations to fast-growing SMEs - helping them design employee experiences that drive engagement and performance.

How long does it take to see results from an EX programme?

Some changes, such as improved communication or leadership alignment, can show impact within weeks. Broader cultural transformation takes longer but delivers lasting results.

What makes scarlettabbott different from other consultancies?

Our approach blends behavioural insight, creative storytelling, and data-driven strategy. We don’t offer templates - we build bespoke solutions around your people and goals.

How can AI and digital tools support employee experience?

When used responsibly, technology can streamline processes and personalise experiences. The key is ensuring automation enhances, rather than replaces, human interaction.

Can employee experience be measured?

Absolutely. Metrics such as engagement scores, retention rates, wellbeing indicators, and internal communication effectiveness provide tangible proof of progress.