What Makes a Top Employer?
Over the last 2 years, employees have changed the way they approach work. The pandemic, in many ways, changed the “normal” of corporate work and the shift has many companies wondering what it takes to be considered a top employer. As the Great Resignation continues to occur, let’s look at some areas of importance for employees and what it might take to retain and attract professional talent.
Earlier this year, Forbes partnered with Statista to survey working Americans to create their 2022 list of America’s Top Employers. Employees were asked to rate their companies on a scale of 0 to 10, based on how likely they would be to recommend the company to a friend or colleague. It also asked questions about company culture, growth opportunities, and compensation. Before we look at the results, ask yourself, would our employees consider us a top employer? Or as an employee, would you give your organization top marks? If not, what holds you back?
As you sit with that for a moment, let’s look into some commonalities seen in the survey on what employees considered top employer attributes.
COMPANY CULTURE
Employees rank company culture high on their list. How are you doing what you are doing in the workplace to create a valuable place for employees to work. Post-pandemic, many companies that ranked high on Forbes lists have incorporated remote and flexible work options into their new normal. The pandemic showed us that remote work is possible and it doesn’t compromise productivity or performance. Other high-ranking organizations offered valuable employee perks, like daycare options, fun lunchroom choices, and “free” time within the workday. When employees feel supported, both professionally and personally, they are more willing to commit more energy to work. Creating a company culture where employees feel safe and valued can go a long way when it comes to retention and attraction. It can also increase referral rates for new hires.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
Another top employer attribute? Being progressive with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Employees want to see inclusion across the organization. Women throughout all levels of the organization are impactful for all female employees to see as well as prospective employees. It shows female employees that growth to the highest level is possible and valued. Also drawing attention, the inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community also garnered a high ranking. When your employees feel safe to be themselves at work, they are more invested in the well-being of the organization. Companies that focus on strong diversity, equity, and inclusion, are showing their employees they value their differences and they support them regardless of any non-work-related factors.
HANDLING OF CRISIS
Institutes of education and healthcare companies both ranked high on the top employer’s list. This came a bit as a surprise, considering both educators and healthcare workers experienced high levels of burnout and overall fatigue during the pandemic. So how did they earn high marks? Workers in both professions were impressed by their respective organizations' handling of the crisis. In times of intense uncertainty, frequently open and honest communication is an extremely valuable tool. Employees respect being kept up to date and also being considered when high-level decisions are made.
EMPLOYEES FEEL IMPORTANT
Another common theme seen across employees was the feeling that their work is important. As we touched on early, people are changing the way they view work. There is a desire to take part in more meaningful work that makes an impact. When employees are invested and proud of the work they are completing or feel like it is impactful to the company/larger population, they are more likely to recommend the organization to others as well as stay at the organization.
Okay so now that we have touched on some of the key takeaways from the Forbes study, what does it boil down to?
Employees want to feel important and valued. There are many formal and informal ways to display this to employees. For example, it might be a lot easier for an employee to put in extra hours on a project when they know that at the end of any large project, they have 2 flex days off to rest and recover. Or for example, offering on-site daycare for employees can increase retention among first-time moms. Top employers will show employees they belong and also support them throughout their careers and personal lives. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t need all the flashy bells and whistles to make employees happy. Being authentic and connecting with your employees goes a long way. It could be as simple as offering speed mentoring between employees and executives, where employees can sign up for 15-minute 1:1 rounds with an executive mentor. Foster, an environment of inclusion and continuous learning and employees will have good reason to stick around.
SO… how does your company fare with these characteristics? And as we look to move into a post-pandemic world, what areas could you improve?
Celebrating your success,
Krista Ryan