Study: Workers seek value-based recognition

While it may seem to some workers that the current economic climate favors employers, a recent study done in collaboration with a national group made up of human resource professionals suggests otherwise.

A 2017 study done by the Society for Human Resource Management in collaboration with Globoforce, an international software company that provides human resource software, found that employee retention and recruitment remain the top challenges facing companies. Those findings beg the question: What exactly do workers look for when they go searching for a new place of employment?

For some recent college graduates, the answer may be something as simple as whether an employer provides a living wage. But for workers of all ages in high demand fields, the answer is a little more complex.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the U.S. job market reached a new milestone in July 2017 when there were 6.2 million job opportunities, the most the U.S. has seen since the BLS began tracking this type of data 17 years ago. And while the data was national and not Connecticut specific, executives in the state’s manufacturing sector regularly complain they can’t find enough skilled workers to fill the jobs they have available.

A recent white paper released by Globoforce on bringing more humanity and social connection to the workplace found that employees increasingly are searching for meaning in their jobs and that frequent, values-based recognition

“A recent white paper released by Globoforce on bringing more humanity and social connection to the workplace found that employees increasingly are searching for meaning in their jobs and that frequent, values-based recognition is one of the best ways to meet that need.”

is one of the best ways to meet that need.

While many employers want a satisfied workforce, some are reluctant to spend the money necessary to achieve that goal, according to Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist at Glassdoor.com, a website where employees and former employees anonymously review companies and their management teams.

“Is it really worth it for employers to invest in becoming an amazing place to work?” Chamberlain said in a statement. “Employees who are more satisfied — who feel like their job is rewarding, see an upward career path, and have great managers — clearly drive better financial performance for companies.”

Hearst Connecticut Media wants to find out what your employer does to keep employees happy and motivated. Readers can nominate their employers for Hearst Connecticut Media’s annual Top Workplaces Award.

The program is open to employers with 35 or more employees in Fairfield, New Haven and Litchfield counties, whether public, private, nonprofit or governmental. Recognition is given for small, midsize and large organizations.

Workplaces are evaluated by their employees using a short, 24-question survey.

Last year, 45 companies were honored as Energage, Hearst Connecticut Media’s partner in the Top Workplaces program, reviewed nearly 10,000 survey responses.

Energage, formerly WorkplaceDynamics, last year surveyed 2.5 million employees at more than 6,000 organizations.

“At our core, we are a research company, and we want companies to know what is going well in their organization and celebrate that, and what challenges there may be and how to address them,” Bob Helbig, media partnerships director with Energage, said. “The input from employees helps companies know what is going on with their organization.”

Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplace winners will be featured in the Connecticut Post, The News-Times of Danbury, Greenwich Time, The Stamford Advocate, The Norwalk Hour, New Haven Register and The Register Citizen of Torrington in September. Employers can be nominated online at http://topworkplaces.com/nominate/hearstct or by calling 203-617-0727.