Meeting Employee Expectations in 2022 and Beyond

At this point it should be clear to many of us: How people work is changing.

On the back of the pandemic and “Great Resignation,” we have seen employee expectations increase. Today, to be a “great place to work,” companies must actively improve employee wellness, engage in social issues and minimize the environmental impact of their operations. Companies need to stand for something and “walk the talk.”

Juniper Networks has taken these realities to heart. As a networking company, we default to thinking about connections – between us and our employees, our customers and product and our company and the greater world. Owing to this mindset, we’ve worked tirelessly to improve the lives of all our stakeholders.

As we enter 2023, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on a few of the important and impactful ways that Juniper has evolved to meet the needs of our employees, customers and communities over the past year.

Developing and supporting our people

It’s been a challenging year for people everywhere. While the worst of COVID-19 may be behind us, the pandemic continues to make an impact on us personally and professionally, mentally and physically.

Recognizing the immense pressure facing our employees, Juniper has worked hard to ensure they get the personal and professional support they need. For example, over the past year we’ve reimagined how we work, making flexibility a default and empowering employees to work in ways that work best for them. These allowances are making their desired impact: When we asked employees whether they feel like they can take time off when they need it, 94% said yes[1].

We’ve also made tremendous strides in supporting working parents, who have needed special support over the past two years. In December, Great Place to Work named us one of the Best Workplaces for Parents, a recognition, in part, of the many new benefits we’ve implemented to help employees.

Raising the bar for customers

When it comes to our products and customers, 2022 has been a tremendous year for Juniper. We have deepened our relationships with small and large customers alike and spanning industries such as healthcare, retail, telecom, education and more. Around the world, companies are relying on our solutions to drive their businesses forward, and we continue to change how people connect, live and work. 

The fullness of our vision and our ability to execute have earned us no shortage of industry recognition. Gartner®, for example, has named us a Visionary in their 2022 Magic Quadrant™ for SD-WAN Infrastructure. Likewise, our Network Firewalls, Wired and Wireless LAN Access Infrastructure and Indoor Location Services products have all earned recognition from analysts, our peers and our customers.

Caring for our communities & environment

Juniper is passionate about raising the bar for customers, and we also care deeply about our impact on the world. From social justice to sustainability, we believe that companies have a role to play in the issues that matter most today. Our employees, customers, partners and investors expect us to engage on initiatives that matter.

For our communities, we continue to directly engage with issues important to us – such as STEM education and disaster relief – and support the issues most important to our employees. For example, every employee gets 40 hours per year to volunteer for their chosen causes.

On the climate front, earlier this year, Juniper pledged to be carbon neutral by 2025. Fulfilling this pledge means both improving our operational efficiency and investments in renewable energy. Our environmental impact also extends to our customers. As more companies appreciate the growing environmental impact of the IT industry, we’re well positioned to help customers boost their sustainability efforts through smarter, more efficient networking technology.

Looking ahead

As challenging as the past two years have been, what’s been most encouraging has been our collective response. More than ever, companies have shown a willingness to engage with issues facing their many stakeholders, whether through more flexible workdays or deepened engagement with social issues.

As we enter 2023, one thing I’ll be following closely is how companies – Juniper included – continue to build on the experiences and lessons of the past two years. While there’s no doubt that the world will continue to change, what won’t change is our commitment to making the world a better place, both internally for our employees and externally for our customers, communities and planet.