What separates average companies from those considered truly elite employers? Pay and benefits obviously factor for job seekers evaluating opportunities. But the very best cultivate loyalty through a culture of always putting employees first. Custom employee incentives like bonuses or vacation time certainly attract talent. Nevertheless, according to the people at Motivation Excellence, genuine investment in developing people holistically as human beings elevates work satisfaction, driving retention and growth.
Hire for Mindset and Train for Skills
Common logic says hire candidates with the most robust skill sets tailored to open roles, but soft skills like creative problem-solving, positivity and motivation indicate capacity for picking up technical capabilities relative to any position. Leading companies thus target cultural fit and eagerness to grow over specific existing abilities during recruiting. This allows room to mold well-intentioned team players into whatever the business needs through training programs leveling up skills. Patience and resources devoted to nurturing employees make them feel valued through opportunities, not disposable commodities.
Incentivize Learning and Development
Traditional views on incentives focus on concrete metrics like sales quotas or production benchmarks to calculate bonuses. But the people-first philosophy flips focus to reward actions nurturing employee advancement versus solely what they produce. Offer financial incentives like tuition reimbursement or paid time towards earning relevant certifications. Structure awards programs weighing progress mastering new responsibilities equally with or even above hard performance numbers. Promote sabbaticals allowing workers to completely unplug while broadening perspectives that ultimately benefit the company. When you demonstrate business goals never undermine personal progress, you breed employee dedication no rival can break.
Flexible Schedules Empower Work-Life Blend
Rigid schedules with little accommodation for shifts in personal situations over time frustrate even the most dedicated staffers. Great companies acknowledge life’s unpredictability by offering flexible arrangements benefiting both employer and employee needs. Options like remote work, adjustable hours or condensed weeks allow people to modify workflows around family requirements, health challenges or other individual obligations. Even small gestures like allowing office workers to bring pets to work some days or installing quiet rooms for private issues means a lot. The more control staff have balancing professional and private worlds, the harder they work.
Show Employee Appreciation
Verbal affirmations acknowledging effort and results make people feel good about their contributions, even during mundane tasks. Great managers offer praise and constructive feedback frequently, so workers grasp their value is noticed, not just end products. Tangible displays like employee of the month parking spots or shout outs at all-hands meetings make recognition impossible to ignore. When incentive programs feature peer nominated awards or prizes for behaviors exemplifying company values over sales figures alone, it spotlights what matters most.
Healthy, Happy Employees = Healthy Bottom Lines
Some overly frugal executives undervalue perks and programs putting employee wellbeing first as luxuries diverting funds from operational needs. Nevertheless, ample research confirms that healthy, happy workers perform better across metrics benefiting the bottom line like higher productivity, lower absenteeism, superior customer satisfaction and increased innovation versus competitors. Demonstrating authentic commitment to staff prosperity indicates they are human partners, not resources to be exploited. This realization motivates them to drive prosperity for the companies doing right by them.
Conclusion
Amid historically tight labor markets, hiring and retaining top talent requires looking beyond flashy branding or generous base compensation alone. Workers, especially younger generations, seek employers embracing purpose and culture enriching their lives’ greater meaning. Organizations investing tangible resources into supportive incentives and policies benefiting individual growth and work-life balance earn employee trust and loyalty in return. When workers feel empowered pursuit of their potential aligns with corporate success, it unlocks innovation and performance combining to outpace competitors. Great companies recognize that truly caring for people governs greatness.