What Your Employees Want From Your Company

Posted on 11/13 by Erin Helms

Stand out as a desirable company to work for, and retain your best talent, by understanding what your employees really want. It’s a common refrain from managers and HR offices in the past few years -- “Nobody wants to work anymore!” For what it’s worth, that’s a complaint that has been voiced for more than 100 years; everything old is new again. The truth is that people don’t want to work for less than what they’re worth; they don’t want to be told to be grateful just for having a job that pays them and they don’t want to feel like they have to sacrifice their personal lives and time for a job that doesn’t appreciate them. As a manager, you might be on the defensive already and that’s understandable. But take a moment and consider what your employees actually want from your company before skipping on to your next piece of reading material. Here’s what employees want:

To be paid a decent wage that reflects their skills and experience.

The internet and social media have made it easier than ever for people to find out what their friends are making and to learn what other companies are paying employees for the same job. This is good for employees and potentially not so great for companies if they’re not keeping pace with competitive compensation. Now, if you’re a company that reviews salaries and hourly wages and keeps pace, or offers compensation above what your competition is paying, you’re in a great spot! That can help make you a really attractive employer that candidates will want to work for.

Work-life balance without guilt.

Something that came into sharp focus during the pandemic was that people have reevaluated their home lives and the importance placed on it. People want to be able to be there for their friends and family; they want to go to dance recitals and little league games. They don’t want to be tethered to their phone and available to their managers unless it’s a real and true emergency. And they don’t want to feel guilty for having to say no to overtime or taking on extra projects that will eat into their off-hours. Your employees want to be able to go home at the end of the day and not pick up thinking about work until they report the next day. Their dedication during work hours should be respected by honoring their personal time when they’re not on the clock.

Chances to move up in their career.

Not everyone wants to climb the ladder and become a manager or an executive, but some employees will. Some employees also look for opportunities to add new skills and technical proficiencies and would like the ability to do so without having to change jobs, especially if they feel respected and fairly compensated for their work. Offering access to training, or job shadowing opportunities, or mentorship programs, and instituting a policy of promoting and hiring from within, all give your current team the reassurance that you want your employees to succeed and grow within their careers without having to look elsewhere. Your company will benefit from this as well -- you won’t have to deal with turnover and open spaces that require searches for new employees, meaning your productivity will stay on pace.

A positive work environment.

Yes, everyone has bad days. Yes, sometimes companies have to deal with bad news or unexpected drops in sales or finances that put things in a pinch. But overall, your employees want to come to work in a place where they feel valued, appreciated and respected. They want to know they matter. A positive work environment and supportive culture is becoming a national priority among employees, and for good reason: no one wants to work in a place where everyone is miserable and cranky and no one wants to be there at all, for any length of time. It might sound silly, but just saying “thank you” and letting your team know you appreciate them can go a long way. Have a monthly birthday celebration, even if it’s just letting your team know who’s birthday is coming up that month. Buy coffee for your team on occasion. Share people’s victories and accomplishments. If someone had a suggestion that led to a new client or a time-saving innovation, talk about it! Post reminders about your company’s employee wellness programs (or create some if you don’t have any in place currently). Let them in on the big picture of what your company is working toward and how they all play a part in it — the company’s success is the result of your employees’ hard work!

A little flexibility goes a long way.

Not all companies can institute remote or hybrid working arrangements (and not all employees want that). But if you can be flexible with hours, if not all the time than on an as-needed basis, make that clear. If people want to leave early one day because their child has a big event at school, allow them to make up the time later. Remind your team of their paid time off allotment and that it can be used as needed; make clear any restrictions that are in place during busy periods as needed and make those announcements well in advance. Being flexible goes back to showing your team that you value them during their work hours and respect their personal lives when off the clock.

Supporting your employees as full people, not just workers, can go so far toward making for a happy, productive, fulfilled workplace. When employees are happy, they tell their friends about how much they like their company, which in turn becomes a great recruitment tool when you need to add to your team. Employee testimonials can go so far when it comes to bringing in top talent. Making your company a place where employees are paid well, and respected, their work-life balance is honored and they feel appreciated can help your company succeed on all levels.

Are You Looking To Hire?

If you’d like more ideas on how to increase morale at your company while expanding your pool of job applicants when you have a position open, LaborMax is here to help! Our staffing experts are ready to share best practices with you and will take all the heavy lifting of posting job ads and reviewing resumes off your desk. When you’re ready to learn more, call LaborMax and see all we can do for you.

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