In the last 18 months, everything we thought we knew, enjoyed and perhaps didn’t enjoy as much about our jobs has been flipped on its head.
Emerging from the pandemic, the recruitment market has become increasingly challenging with businesses getting fiercely competitive in their counter offers, employees demanding more from their bosses and skills shortages forcing some organisations to close all together.
It’s not just the best working model that businesses are having to look at in order to attract and retain top talent. What employees want from a place of work has shifted significantly in this time.
So, what is it that employees value most from an employer in the post pandemic world?
We take a look…
- Flexibility
Flexibility has become one of the most highly rated perks, and this doesn’t just mean the flexibility to work from a different location, it also relates to working more flexible hours. In a recent poll by EY, 39% of people said they would like more choice in when they work, and 43% wanted choice in where they worked[1]. Some companies are going fully remote, while others are opting for different versions of hybrid work environments. There’s no one size fits all solution to flexible working, much will depend on the size, structure and nature of a business but there is strong consensus that the 9-5 is no longer relevant and therefore businesses should be implementing some sort of flexibility to allow their workforce to navigate this ever-changing world.
2. Purpose
For many people, the pandemic was a chance to hit reset and a chance to evaluate what is actually important to them. Many people had the opportunity to spend more time with their families and this huge change in lifestyle put things into perspective for them. As a result, we’ve seen a shift in attitude and more employees rate having a sense of purpose much more highly. This was especially true in Millennials, 63% of workers under 35 said the primary purpose of businesses should be “improving society” instead of “generating profit.” [2] If businesses are to attract and retain the best young talent, they need to have tangible proof that they’re committed to purpose driven causes.
3. Learning and Development Opportunities
Gen Z and millennial workers are leading what’s been dubbed as the “Great Resignation.” Unlike their predecessors, they’re not afraid to quit a job if it doesn’t give them what they want. A big driver in keeping these workers within a business is having a clear, attainable career path. Younger people don’t want to be stagnant in a role, they want to know that if they put the work in, they’ll be rewarded. Businesses need to showcase real life examples of this both internally and externally to demonstrate exactly how they support their employees in personal development and promotion. Utilising social media, writing case studies and using employees as advocates will all help to support and highlight these examples.
4. Emphasis on Wellbeing
The pandemic has taken its toll on most people’s wellbeing, whether they’ve worked throughout, been on furlough or been made redundant. Each experience has come with its own set of challenges and pressures but what’s important is how businesses now support their employees at work in the long term. Many high-profile companies such as Nike, Amazon and Google have pledged their commitment to wellbeing with initiatives such as paid mental health days, additional time off and supportive workshops. Prioritising the health and wellbeing of employees should now be a top priority and a great starting point is to consult directly with your workforce in order to understand exactly what policies and processes will make a real impact to them. It also requires a much closer look at a company’s overall culture, whether employees are encouraged to take breaks, supported before reaching burnout and given access to a range of wellbeing resources all year round.
Employers all over the world are finding it much harder to source talented, skilled and committed workers and so businesses need to start listening to what employees really want in order to retain their top talent.
The world of work has changed significantly in the last 18 months and until the pandemic has completely passed, there’s still much uncertainty around what the future workplace will look like.
For now, an agile approach will help businesses overcome the challenges faced in the short term, while looking strategically at the approach for the next 12 months.
If you’re struggling to find the right talent to join your business, Human Resourcing can help. As specialists in all HR roles, we have access to a huge pool of both passive and active candidates.
Get in touch to discuss your specific requirements.
Email: Mera.mann@humanresourcing.co.uk
[1] https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/news/half-employees-would-quit-without%20flexible-working-post-pandemic-poll-finds#gref
[2] https://www.kornferry.com/insights/this-week-in-leadership/millennials-purpose-generation