What does it really mean to be an employer of choice? By definition, what makes an organization an employer of choice is its ability to attract and retain the best candidates with a desirable company culture, leadership style, and substantial level of employee engagement. The environment available at an employer of choice often favors the well-being, safety, and happiness of employees and customers.
We’ve put together 7 tips to help get you on your way to becoming an employer of choice.
1. Fair Compensation
Being an employer of choice has never just been about salary and terms, but that’s not say that these aren’t important considerations.
An employer of choice strives to pay employees compensation that may include a salary and benefits that are equal to or above market rates. Most employers of choice offer employees a comprehensive employee benefits package, as they can afford to add benefits for employees, including health insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, and paid vacation.
2. Job Security
Employees who work for an employer of choice are reasonably certain that their employer is financially sound. Freedom from concern about losing their jobs, employees can concentrate on their goals and core functions without worry.
3. Opportunity for Growth
At an employer of choice, employees feel as if they are encouraged to continue to develop their skills and careers. These employers offer performance development planning, career paths, and internal and external training opportunities and stretch assignments to help employees expand their skills.
4. High Degrees of Involvement
Organizations with a strong employer brand make employees feel as if they have the opportunity to be involved. They can make suggestions, think up new products or service innovations, serve on employee committees to plan events and work processes, and attend appropriate meetings and have input on work processes that affect their jobs.
5. Recognition & Rewards
Employers of choice provide feedback to employees about their performance, growth prospects, accomplishments, and areas needing improvement regularly. One of the most powerful forms of feedback is employee recognition. For an employer of choice, recognition is regular, targeted to real successes, and used to reinforce positive, desired behavior.
6. Respect
Employees may not always be right, and their ideas may not set company direction and choices, but with an employer of choice, employees feel that their bosses and co-workers fundamentally respect them.
7. Empowerment
Employees are empowered to make decisions about and take responsibility for how they do their jobs. Their department gives employees a strategic framework (company mission, vision, values, goals, feedback), but they control their choices and how they perform their core functions and make progress on their goals.
These are not all of the characteristics of an employer of choice, but if you've implemented a significant number of these factors in your company, you are well on your way to becoming an employer that attracts and retains superior employees.
About Great Place to Work®
Great Place to Work® is the Global Authority on Workplace Culture. We make it easy to survey your employees, uncover actionable insights and get recognized for your great company culture.
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