With the influx of new businesses in the Huntsville and Madison County area, and the unemployment rate at a historic low, attracting, optimizing, and retaining top talent can be a challenge. Creating a great employer brand is vital in order to achieve this objective.
Leadership is the foundation for creating an employer brand that attracts and retains the kind of employees needed for a business to compete and grow. So often leaders, while leading the charge to meet customer demands, look back to find employees not focused on the same objectives or missing in action.
Companies do not have unlimited funds to buy employees and their focus, and if they did, this strategy is not long- term fix. Creating an environment where employees can be secure, belong, and grow is.
People don’t come with instructions or an operating manual, however, here are five key things that will create the environment for employee success and make your company one employees choose.
- A supportive physical environment. This one seems to be so obvious it may be overlooked. Do employees have adequate heating and cooling, meal periods, breaks, and clean restrooms?
- A safe environment. Is the workplace safe from physical and people hazards? Is the workplace free from sexual harassment and bullying? Does management take harassment concerns seriously when reported? Is the workplace free of safety hazards? Are safety hazards immediately addressed and fixed?
- A supportive environment. Employees should feel a sense of belonging and trust. Does the company have new hire orientations and mentoring to set up a positive work environment for new employees? Are employee meetings held sharing company information? Does management show concern for employee well-being? Are negative employees counseled?
- Success defined. Do employees know what it means to be successful? Do employees get constructive non-threatening feedback? Is success recognized?
- Self-actualization. Does the company provide opportunities for employee development: training, challenging assignments, education, and professional development? Growth does not always mean developing the next leader, but it does mean helping the employee be all they can be. Sometimes it means helping their personal development outside of work.
Where is money (compensation) among the five things? Compensation, pay, bonuses, and benefits (insurance, vacation, holidays, retirement, etc.) do differentiate employers, but do not create the environment that in the long run make an employer one of choice when the above five things are substantially missing.
By Lynda Botsch, SHRM-CP
