In an era of increasing globalization and increasing demand for skilled workers, recruiting, and retaining talent can pose a formidable challenge for employers. This challenge is only magnified by the fact that the needs and expectations of today's workforce are rapidly evolving. But what benefits should you offer today's job seekers to ensure your company is the preferred employer in your domain?
Today's job seekers, in some ways, are not that different from the prospects of the past. They are looking for fair compensation and a robust benefits package; preferably one that includes generous vacation time and a good salary.
But that's just the starting point for many of today's candidates. In fact, these more traditional benefits of good pay and great benefits may not even be top memories for some employees.
A survey found that more than 70% of workers said they were more likely to choose to work at a company with a strong environmental agenda.
This means, above all, that today's workers are looking to align themselves with a company that shares their values. So, chances are your ideal candidates aren't just looking for paid work. They are also looking to work for a purpose.
Employees not only want to be proud of the organization they choose to dedicate their time and efforts to, but they also want to feel that they are more than just a number on their employer's payroll.
They want to work for a company that genuinely cares about their physical, emotional, and mental well-being – and is willing to prove it by offering benefits that increase their happiness and satisfaction, both in the office and beyond.
For example, allowing your employees to bring their pets to work can be a huge boost to employee morale and productivity. Studies have also found that having pets in the workplace helps reduce your employees' stress and promotes team cohesion.
And this benefit can be a particularly attractive advantage to promote in a recruitment ad, allowing you to stand out from your competitors to attract top talent!
Offering benefits that truly demonstrate your company cares about your employees' well-being doesn't end at the office door. It's also important to offer benefits that help employees practice self-care, especially as your employees struggle to cope with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Your employees may be working remotely at least some of the time, which could mean they continue to experience the mental health challenges that come with extended social isolation.
Offering your employees perks that help them cultivate their physical and mental health can be critical not only to attracting talent, but also to retaining it. And in the process, you'll be building a healthier, happier, more productive workforce!
So, consider offering benefits that support your employees' overall well-being, such as flexible hours and remote work opportunities for employees with young children or those caring for aging parents.
They also offer additional benefits such as free gym and spa memberships, access to mental health services and, especially for your remote employees, opportunities to socialize safely with colleagues outside of business hours.
It's hard to find talent willing to invest themselves and their careers in your company if your company isn't willing to invest in them. This is true for traditional, hybrid, and remote workers. Increasingly, employees are looking for the opportunity to grow with their company, to be challenged and to advance their career.
And that means providing your workforce, both co-campus and remote, with ample learning opportunities to empower them to hone their professional skills and move forward with their organization.
There are many ways to do this, such as offering tuition reimbursement for courses completed or degrees earned. You can also offer in-house training opportunities. Or you can provide incentives such as bonuses or promotions for any relevant professional training, certifications or licenses your employees earn.
Your employees are the heart and soul of your organization. However, it is not always easy to attract, let alone retain, the best talent. But understanding the needs and expectations of today's workforce can make this process easier.
Now, more than ever, employees want to work for a company whose values align with their own, a company that genuinely cares about the well-being of its employees, and a company that offers employees many opportunities to grow not only in their career, but also on your skills and knowledge.
