5 Great Ways to Attract and Retain Staff

It’s no secret that, for many industries, the pandemic has thrown hiring staff into disarray. And research shows that employers are being forced to think much more creatively about ways to attract new staff members (and ensure their existing ones stick around).

So what are some ways to do that, beyond just throwing money at the problem? Well, we’re glad you asked. Here are five strategies to try (beyond salary) that’ll add up to success when hiring.

Offering flexibility goes far beyond just letting people work from home (if that’s possible in your workplace). Instead, think about the other flexi options employees are hankering for.

Working mothers, for example, are doing it tough during the pandemic, often finding themselves overloaded as careers, makeshift school-teachers during home-schooling – and trying to hold down a job. So creating policies to fund more paid leave, so parents can take time off if they need to, and creating working hours that align more closely with school hours, can prove attractive.

We spend around 90,000 hours at work over our lifetime, and if that’s in a miserable, uninspiring cubicle with bad florescent lighting overhead, you can bet your employees won’t be impressed – and may not be doing their best, most productive work.

You don’t have to revamp the office completely, but making the workplace as inviting and comfortable as possible, with nice amenities, can be a drawcard. Harnessing natural light, creating air-flow, having comfortable meeting rooms with the right equipment and a kitchen or break room well-stocked with coffees, teas and yummy snacks will all make a difference. Oh, and make sure everyone has an ergonomic workstation, too.

There’s a huge trend towards retraining and upskilling right now, especially with the advancement of automation and AI – and companies that support their employees to expand on their skillset are likely to be more attractive than those who don’t. That might translate to paying for courses your employees want to do or offering in-house training.

Similarly, wellness benefits may appeal to job-seekers – so you could consider reimbursing employees for digital fitness memberships or equipment purchases. You might also create policies to cover commuting costs, especially if they spend a lot on parking or public transport.

An alternative to cash-only compensation could be offering stock options as a way of attracting and retaining staff. The benefits to this ‘perk’ could be that employees feel they have ownership of the company – and help them reap financial rewards from a successful business.

From a HR perspective, offering stock options with a proviso that the employee must remain employed at the company for a specific amount of time before the shares can be issued and sold could also help increase staff retention.

This might seem like an unusual perk, but studies show that creating a workplace culture that supports and encourages volunteering can help boost employee morale, your reputation as a workplace – and create a positive perception of your brand.

And having a volunteer program may help you attract the best talent – as job-seekers are starting to place more stock in the meaning behind their work, with many placing a high value on social responsibility. A volunteer program can help employees build skills in critical thinking, communication and problem-solving.

As you can see, there are lots of ways to attract and retain employees beyond the traditional strategies – and sometimes it’s about figuring out what might be important to your employees or to the staff you’re hoping to hire, and creating policies to suit.

Want more? Check out the statistics in our Feel Good Index Report to find out other ways that employees are working to attract and retain staff. And, stay tuned for our upcoming salary guide, which we’re releasing next month!