In today's workplace, businesses face many stark realities. According to a recent survey conducted by several international employment agencies, one in every two employees revealed they would like to leave their current job within the next two years. While the major reason given for leaving was seeking a better-paying job, many other factors also played a role
Amy Klimek, VP - Human Resources
in the decision-making process. They included lack of recognition for accomplishments, failing to provide adequate benefits and the job not fitting in well with the employee's lifestyle. Whatever the reason, the fact is employers everywhere must figure out new and creative ways to keep current employees as well as attract new ones with means other than higher salaries. While this is a task that can be difficult at best, it is necessary if companies expect today's generation of workers to stick around for the long run.
Emphasize Quality of Life
More and more employers are beginning to realize that employees want not only a job that satisfies their professional aspirations, but also one that provides them with a quality of life that they will enjoy day in and day out. Today's employees, unlike previous generations, tend to believe a good quality of life is just as if not more important than the salary associated with a job. Therefore, employers are beginning to emphasize lifestyle when recruiting employees. For example, companies located near beaches, golf courses, ski resorts or other prime destinations have begun to offer memberships or trips to these places as part of their benefits package. In addition, more job interviews are now being conducted on a golf course, ski slope or biking trail as a way to put everyone at ease while discussing the finer points of a position. A very popular recruiting technique with Millennials, it shows just how much the recruiting and interviewing process is changing in the twenty-first century.
Flexible and Progressive Benefits
Today's top companies have come to the realization that in order to succeed, they must be able to change with the times and be very progressive and proactive when it comes to new and innovative benefits for employees. Likewise, employees have come to expect employers to make their work experience challenging yet enjoyable at the same time. Employers now find themselves offering a variety of services to employees, which can include:
- Life coaching
- Massage rooms
- Gyms
- Dry cleaning
- Eldercare services
In surveys conducted by many of today's leading job recruiting companies, people searching for jobs indicated they wanted and expected more than the traditional benefits such as health insurance, retirement accounts and paid vacations. Employees today see their career track as more of a journey than a destination, so they enjoy such benefits as life coaching to help keep them focused on where they are and where they want to be in their career in the years ahead. They also expect employers to emphasize physical and mental health, providing them places to work their bodies while relaxing their minds. In recent years, many employers have invested heavily in gyms for their employees and other family members to use, which has been shown to greatly increase efficiency on the job. In fact, studies conducted by global consulting firms have indicated workplace efficiency has increased by as much as 65 percent in companies that allow employees time each day to work out, get a massage and speak with on-site counselors or life coaches about any concerns they may have in or out of the workplace.
Celebrating Achievements
A very simple yet effective way to attract employees without raising wages involves celebrating achievements and thanking employees for a job well done. Psychologists have noted that employees who are given praise for doing good work tend to stay with an employer longer than those who are rarely if ever recognized for their achievements. Saying "thank you" to a group of employees who have completed an important project or giving a certificate to a person who provided great customer service can make them feel as if their work is respected and recognized as excellent. In these situations, common sense indicates people will want to stay in an environment where they receive acclaim for their deeds, and it costs nothing to give someone a pat on the back and a compliment.
While wages inevitably play an important role in attracting and retaining employees, it is at times overrated by many people. Today's workplace, as well as the world itself, is changing at a rapid pace. The most successful employees and employers recognize if they are to realize their goals, they must be flexible and open to new ideas. By utilizing these and other techniques, attracting the best employees will be far less of a challenge than in years past.
Amy Klimek is an experienced HR recruiter and VP of Human Resources for ZipRecruiter, a company that simplifies the hiring process for small to medium size businesses. Prior to that Amy has held similar roles at Rent.com, eBay and US Interactive.
For Amy, corporate culture isn't about dogs and free lunches, it's about empowering employees and creating an enriching environment for people to excel.