The enterprise guide to an Employee Value Proposition (EVP): Building a competitive edge in the modern workplace

What is an Employee Value Proposition (EVP)?

An Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is the unique set of benefits, values, and experiences an organization offers employees in exchange for their skills, capabilities, and commitment. In essence, it’s the answer to the question: Why should a talented individual choose to work for your company rather than a competitor?

An EVP is both a statement and an evolving promise that shapes how people perceive, experience, and advocate for your organization.

For large enterprises where complexity, scale, and competition for talent are at their peak, a compelling EVP must resonate with diverse needs and drive engagement.

Why is an EVP important?

The modern labor market is defined by fierce competition, shifting employee expectations, and rapid digital transformation. The rise of hybrid work, demand for purpose-driven employment, and the Great Resignation have forced organizations to rethink how they attract and retain talent.

Here are some of the reasons enterprises should focus on their EVP:

• Attract and retain top talent: A strong EVP differentiates your organization and positions you as an employer of choice – drawing in high-caliber candidates. In addition, research from Gartner shows that being able to effectively deliver this can also increase new hire commitment by nearly 30%.
• Reduce turnover and hiring costs: Every time you have to replace an employee, it costs your business money. However, the same study from Gartner showed that organizations that effectively deliver on their EVP can decrease employee turnover by 69%.
• Boost engagement and productivity: When employees feel valued and connected to the company’s purpose, they’re more engaged, innovative, and productive.
• Strengthen employer brand: A strong EVP is the foundation of your employer brand – shaping how you’re perceived internally and externally.
• Enable business agility: A clear EVP helps break down siloes, and empowers employees to deliver on key business goals – critical for large enterprises navigating constant change.

What elements make up a successful EVP?

While every organization’s EVP is unique, the following elements should be seen as foundational.

EVP and employee experience: the critical connection

EVP and employee experience are two sides of the same coin. EVP defines the deal; employee experience is how that deal is lived every day. In a nutshell:

• EVP sets expectations: It’s the promise you make to employees.
• Employee experience delivers on those expectations: It’s the reality of daily work, shaped by technology, culture, and leadership.

A misalignment between EVP and actual experience erodes trust and engagement. For large enterprises, where consistency across regions and functions is challenging, digital platforms play a vital role in bridging this gap.

The role of digital workplaces in a strong EVP

Digital workplaces are essential for delivering a consistent and scalable EVP for global enterprises. The latter is especially important given the size and spread of enterprise workforces. The overall result is a thriving, engaged workforce aligned with the company's vision and goals.

How digital platforms strengthen EVP:

A robust digital workplace or employee experience platform can amplify an enterprise’s EVP by providing employees with the tools and culture for better engagement and productivity. Here's how:

• Break down siloes: Centralized communication and collaboration tools connect dispersed teams, ensuring everyone has access to the same information and opportunities.
• Accelerate decision-making: Real-time collaboration, knowledge management, and cross-platform search empower employees with reliable information to act quickly and confidently.
• Personalize the experience: AI-powered intranets tailor content and resources to individual roles, locations, and languages.
• Enable feedback and recognition: Digital platforms facilitate two-way communication, pulse surveys, instant employee feedback, and peer recognition, making employees feel heard and valued.
• Support hybrid and frontline workers: Things like employee apps and digital signage keep all employees, regardless of location or shift pattern, connected to the company’s culture and resources. One digitally accessible experience on any pane of glass leaves no worker behind or out of the loop.

For enterprises, a robust digital workplace isn’t just a tool – it’s the infrastructure for delivering on your EVP promise at scale.

How enterprises can create a successful EVP

Download the 7-step checklist for creating a successful EVP for your enterprise.

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Practical Tips for Leaders:

• HR leaders: Use pulse surveys and focus groups to capture evolving employee needs.
• Internal Comms: Tell authentic stories that showcase your EVP in action.
• IT: Ensure digital tools are intuitive, integrated, and accessible to all.

Examples of a successful EVP

Google

One of the world’s leading brands, Google’s EVP focuses on innovation and intellectual stimulation. As well as world-class facilities, they offer employees the option to focus 20% of their time on personal projects

Patagonia

Patagonia’s EVP aligns with its values of sustainability and environmentalism. Employees are encouraged to participate in activism, receive paid volunteer time, and work in a flexible environment.

Kerzner International

Kerzner International, a global hospitality leader, leveraged Unily’s platform to connect its dispersed frontline workforce. By centralizing communication and enabling recognition, Kerzner broke down siloes and fostered a unified culture. This led to higher engagement, a stronger sense of belonging and a workforce that was able to deliver a better customer experience.

Biogen

Biogen, a leading biotechnology company, partnered with Unily to overhaul its corporate communications and collaboration. The platform enabled seamless information sharing and personalized content – improving productivity but also reinforced Biogen’s commitment to employee growth.

The Employee Value Proposition: a catalyst for enterprise growth

In today’s volatile landscape, a compelling Employee Value Proposition has become more of a business imperative than ever before. Enterprises can’t afford to lose employees – to the competition, or to low productivity and disengagement. 

To compete and win in the war for talent, enterprises must:

• Define and deliver an authentic EVP that aligns with business strategy and resonates with diverse employee needs.
• Leverage digital platforms to break down siloes and accelerate decision-making – at scale
• Continuously measure and refine their EVP to ensure it remains relevant, competitive, and impactful.

Ready to transform your EVP and employee experience?

Unily’s award-winning employee experience platform empowers the world’s largest enterprises to build an EVP fit for the modern workforce – ultimately ensuring they can move faster and achieve their most ambitious business goals.

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