In a new era where job openings are at an all-time high, candidates hold the majority of the power in the labor market. As a result, executives must increasingly think outside the box to attract job candidates, going beyond the once-standard method of offering a higher salary.
Your employees are the future of your business. That's why you can't afford to ignore their needs. They're your employees, but they're also your customers. If they're happy, you're happy. If they're not, they're likely to take their business elsewhere. As digital technology continues to evolve, your organization's ability to attract, retain and motivate employees will become more critical than ever.
'Work perks' are rapidly displacing higher pay as the most compelling incentive to attract new talent.
From 'paternity leave' and free snacks to healthcare and even subsidized household bills, it appears that leaders have checked every box in order to entice and retain employees. But, what are the most in-demand workplace perks that managers should be aware of?
The use of technology will play a key role in recruiting in the 21st century because the sheer volume of candidates using websites to search for jobs means that recruiters need to be able to find the right candidates in the shortest possible time.
According to the survey, the most desired benefits were:
- A pension
- Working at home
- HMO
- Work that is adaptable
- Sick pay
Let’s consider some of the 5 benefits employees will want most in 2022.
1. Flexible working conditions
More and more employees are seeing flexible working as a desirable job benefit, whether it's just being able to set their own hours or using this time to build skills that may be used to other aspects of their career. Flexible work arrangements are here to stay, according to the study, as they have no negative effects on productivity and are actually connected to greater recruitment.
2. Career development
Employees are searching for structured opportunities to learn new skills that they can apply in other aspects of their lives or professions. Therefore, hands-on career paths are becoming increasingly popular among recruitment agencies. Job satisfaction is also high among individuals who are able to establish a successful future within an organization, with 86 percent of employees who were offered possibilities for self-development reporting that their work motivates them.
3. Training initiatives
This trend is also successful in the recruitment industry, where organizations can provide tailored training courses to encourage recruiters to develop skills that are more relevant to the evolving employment market. Employee development benefits not only recruiting firms but also recruitment agencies because it allows workers to advance their abilities while also providing recruitment firms with a happier workforce.
4. Work-life balance
With flexible working being firmly established as a recruitment trend, staffing agencies are increasingly focusing on work-life balance initiatives that enable employees to take charge of their own lives and careers. This benefits recruitment companies since it allows recruitment agencies to work when it is convenient for them, making recruitment companies more appealing places to work.
5. Salary increases
While salary remains an important recruitment tool, recruiters are increasingly discovering that they must look outside the box to attract new talent. Recruitment firms were judged to be less appealing recruitment agencies in a recent poll due to their lower income levels when compared to other industries. In the future, recruitment firms will have to compete with recruitment agencies that offer bigger compensation and more prospects for advancement.
Employee discounts, better acknowledgment for their work, and time off for a vacation to recuperate were identified to be the top three perks in 2021 for retaining employees and keeping them satisfied.