Use gamification programs to compete with the gig economy

Over the past several years, new employee trends have emerged. Spurred by the pandemic, individuals flocked to trading in the traditional, long-term job path for short-term or contract employment. Additionally, gamification took over the gig economy, with companies such as Lyft, Uber, and DoorDash utilizing gamification as a creative and attractive way to increase engagement, loyalty, and performance.

Statistics show that 40% of Americans are now involved in the gig economy. Not only has the move toward a gig economy allowed people to explore new opportunities, but it’s also given them the flexibility to create schedules that best suit their individual needs.

The rise in the gig economy means that traditional companies face a new challenge: How do you attract high-level talent? And how can you ensure that team members maintain the same level of dedication and fulfillment? Enter: Gamification.

What is gamification?

Gamification training utilizes game-like elements, such as points and rewards, to engage and motivate employees. For example, five star rider badge Lyft awards and the Lyft weekly ride challenge encourages users to reach their weekly goals.

So, how can your company begin to gamify work so that you can make the most of this new landscape? Read on to find out how gamification, corporate training, and gamification programs can be used to elevate your team and increase success.

What is the gig economy?

To start utilizing gamification methods within your team, it's important to first understand the gig economy. Simply put, the gig economy is an ecosystem that allows individuals to find short-term contracts or freelance work outside of the traditional 9-to-5 job structure.

This flexible workforce has become increasingly popular in recent years, with employees reporting that they're considering leaving their traditional job for gig employment. In fact, statistics show that some of them are already working some kind of side gig.

The change in mentality from traditional corporate jobs to the gig economy means businesses have to change how they recruit and retain talent. With gig workers often being able to pick and choose their hours, the competition for the best employees is becoming harder. Here are a few challenges that come with the rise of gig work:

Talent expects flexibility

Gig workers enjoy the flexibility of gig work, and as a result, they expect companies to provide that same level of flexibility within their corporate working environment. With traditional jobs being more rigid in day-to-day tasks, employers need to offer flexibility within their work structure and find new ways to measure productivity and effectiveness.

The gig economy offers easy exits

When you can jump from one gig to another, the desire for long-term employment isn't as important or desirable. This means that companies must be more proactive in team-building and offer incentives to cultivate loyalty.

Retaining top talent is a challenge

It's now much easier for employees to jump to gig work if they feel dissatisfied with their corporate job or company culture. As a result, employers need to focus on creating a positive and engaging environment to ensure that their best team members remain loyal and engaged.

How gamification took over the gig economy

Gamification methods make use of leaderboards and rewards to incentivize individuals. By awarding badges, points, and other rewards for completing tasks or achieving specific goals, gig workers can feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. This encourages them to work harder.

For traditional companies, the same gamification programs can improve employee productivity and knowledge retention. When companies successfully gamify work, they infuse fun, motivation, and healthy competition into their work environment, which can boost morale, retention rates, and overall performance. With only 38% of employees reporting feeling engaged at work, gamification can help increase this critical metric.

What to know about implementing gamification programs in your organization

If you want to reap the same benefits that the gig economy is experiencing from gamification programs, you’ll need to find a corporate learning partner. Experts in learning technology and training can create custom gamification corporate training for your organization that uses game-like elements to motivate and engage your team.

Before you get started, here are a few key principles of gamification:

• Player rewards and achievements: It’s important to provide rewards and achievements for meeting goals or completing tasks. This can be as simple as offering points or badges for each accomplishment, or you can take it a step further with tangible rewards such as gift cards or discounts. The five star rider badge Lyft awarded to its drivers is an example of this reward system.
• Collaboration and competition: By creating teams or allowing employees to challenge one another, you can generate an environment that encourages growth and progress. As mentioned above, the Lyft weekly ride challenge drives competition between drivers, which helps keep motivation levels high.
• Progress tracking: Gamification programs should include some kind of progress tracker so users can track their accomplishments and compare their performance with others. This ensures that employees keep up with the program and stay motivated throughout.

The key is learning how employees best engage within your company culture and creating a custom gamification program to fit their needs. By using gamification methods at work, you can reap the same benefits of the gig economy and see better engagement, retention, and productivity among your team.

Unlock the power of gamification with Unboxed Training & Technology

Gamification took over the gig economy and is revolutionizing how businesses operate and interact with employees. By using game-like elements, organizations can better engage and motivate their team members while improving overall performance.

If you want to take advantage of the benefits gamification corporate training offers, contact Unboxed Training & Technology (Unboxed). By integrating custom training games into your LMS (or ours), you can personalize the learning experience, heighten attention, sustain focus, and drive action.

Schedule a demo today to learn more about how Unboxed can help you reap the rewards of gamification.