The 5 benefits U.S. employees want most
Despite the headlines of massive layoffs in the tech industry, the job market is still running hot. Americans are dropping out of the labor force as an aging population and a lack of immigration mean that the competition for workers will remain fierce.
Of course, pay is paramount for most people — but beyond an attractive salary, in the current environment companies need to find new ways to distinguish themselves as an employer of choice, experts say.
“At first, companies were throwing money at the problem: You had retention bonuses, and you had pay adjustments. And those did serve a purpose,” said Melissa Swift, U.S. transformation leader at consulting firm Mercer. “But now we’re seeing a shift to sustainable retention strategies: What can you do going forward that will actually continue to retain people so you don’t keep trying to put out the fire with cash.”
Here are five of the top strategies and benefits experts say will be important in 2023. Hint: It goes beyond free lunch, commuting stipends and other sweeteners that dominated this year’s return-to-office push.
Remote work
The opportunity to work from home tops the list of priorities for most candidates with remote-capable jobs. Studies have shown that remote work improves engagement, cuts attrition and boosts productivity — despite many bosses placing a high value on getting employees back to their desks.
Flexibility
“Flexibility” is the new magic word for recruiters. And for good reason: flexibility (or lack thereof) is consistently one of the biggest reasons employees cite for staying or leaving a job, according to Catherine Hartmann, global head of work, rewards and careers at consulting firm Willis Towers Watson.
Getting to work from home is just one aspect, though. This is about having control over your schedule in a more general way.
Sustainable work
Companies are redesigning work to build in proactive rest that prevents burnout rather than responding to it after the fact, said Caitlin Duffy, research director at consulting firm Gartner. Some strategies include meeting-free days, summer Fridays, four-day weeks, firm-wide shutdowns, upping vacation time, reducing tech overload and even a daily nap.
This shift has just begun. “I don’t think we’re there on the really, truly sustainable retention strategy — I do think those are going to have to do more with everyday employee experience,” Ms. Swift said.
Financial health
With compensation failing to keep pace with rising costs, workers are looking for employers that find other ways to take the edge off inflation. An analysis by Lightcast.io, a labor market analytics company, found that one rising benefit is tuition assistance — offered in about 8% of job postings in 2022, up from 7% in 2021.
Job security
Even if the labor market has stayed strong so far, applicants will likely become more cautious as economic conditions shift. Startups and tech companies are especially unstable, as the easy-money era ends and a new wave of austerity begins.
In 2022, employees were penalized with a so-called “loyalty tax” for staying with their employer rather than leaving for a pay raise elsewhere.