
Throughout my career, employers have consistently voiced a similar concern—the struggle to recruit and retain employees. Today, this issue is more prevalent than ever. So, the question arises: How do you compete with other employers to attract and retain a skilled workforce in a tight labor market? Salary, position and benefits are key considerations. Employees are constantly comparing benefits to what they could get elsewhere. What can you do to compete? Focus on retention—survey your team.
Instead of guessing what employees value, ask them. It’s more cost effective keeping employees happy than replacing them. Yet, employers often make decisions in a vacuum and are surprised when people leave due to subpar options and benefits. By being proactive, you can avoid losing employees due to deficiencies in your programs. Everyone can win—follow these four key concepts and learn from your workforce:
Keep it short and simple. First, ask employees to select from a list of work-life options that genuinely interest them. Then seek three to six open-ended responses. Ask broad questions such as, “Why did you join our team? What makes you stay?” Follow up with specific questions like, “What’s the No. 1 benefit you’d like us to offer?” It’s important to survey both core benefit and non-benefit items to provide a better picture of what employees want from their package. You may be surprised by their ideas.
Be clear about what you’re promising (or not). At the beginning of my surveys I state, “We don’t know what we may or may not be able to offer at this time, but we want your feedback so we can try to offer what matters most.”
Keep it confidential. Vital for transparency, employees won’t be as forthcoming if they’re concerned their comments might be used against them. Ask an outside entity—such as your benefits broker—to manage the survey and provide an aggregate report. Assure employees that responses will be gathered by a third party, are confidential and won’t be attributed to any individual. It’s imperative to uphold this confidentiality. Employees should feel safe to share personal struggles. Protecting their privacy is paramount.
Acknowledge that you listened! Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable as this builds trust and loyalty. Employees appreciate transparency. Where appropriate, share your findings. Let your workforce know what is—or isn’t—currently feasible. If you add a benefit based on the survey, state: “We heard you! We’re excited to announce the launch of “The XYZ Program.”
Employees want to feel heard. Consistent communication related to the survey builds morale and improves employee retention. Again, lean on your broker to help communicate to your team, this should be a core service.
Next, let’s talk recruitment. Surveys reveal what your employees value. Benchmarking helps you understand if your packages are competitive. Ask your broker for a Benchmarking Survey. Good surveys combine local and regional data allowing you to better understand trends. You’ll gain insights into what competitors offer, and how you can beat it.
Trends leading into 2023
Here are five trends I’ve seen North Bay employers leverage to retain employees:
- More Vacation Time: Offering unlimited PTO isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. When surveyed, employees often mention they avoid using PTO because they feel there’s no internal support to take time off. This can lead to burnout and larger issues for the employer. Careful planning with an organizational development team can circumvent these issues.
- Dependent Care Assistance Programs (DCAP): This benefit doesn’t have to cost employers ANYTHING but gives employees a tax break for childcare. You can go a step further with a direct-discount program with a local childcare provider.
- Wellness Programs: These come in many forms, so it’s important to survey employees to understand what a wellness program means to them. With that knowledge, you can start small and build from there.
- Health Reimbursement Arrangements: HRAs are different than HSA plans. HRA programs tend to be more flexible for employees to use while also creating a limit on the employer’s financial exposure.
- Student Debt Paydown Programs: Rising student debt is making headlines. Many vendors support student debt paydown programs which can be offered on an employer-paid or an employee-paid benefit.
In today’s labor market, savvy employers leverage employee surveys and benchmarking to develop a total compensation package to protect and build their most important asset—an energized and engaged workforce.
Author
-
Mariah Shields is a principal and senior benefits consultant with Arrow Benefits Group, helping companies design total rewards programs that allow them to recruit and retain skilled employees. Mariah is a team mentor at Arrow and also serves numerous non-profit organizations in the North Bay. She can be reached at (415)-493-4953 or mariahs@arrowbenefitsgroup.com.
View all posts
259 thoughts on “The Superpower of Surveys”
Your producing design is engaging and straightforward to comply with. I anticipate looking through additional from you.
My partner and I stumbled over here by a different web address and thought I may as well check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to checking out your web page repeatedly.
magnificent publish, very informative. I ponder why the other experts of this sector do not realize this. You should continue your writing. I am sure, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
hi!,I really like your writing so much! percentage we keep in touch extra approximately your post on AOL? I need a specialist on this house to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Having a look forward to look you.
Bonito Designs, Building No 1182 Floor, 2, 5th Main Rd, 7th Sector, HSR Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560102 Phone: 080660 85646 bonito.in/interior-designers-in-bangalore/
This post is worth everyone’s attention. How can I find out more?
The root of your writing while sounding reasonable initially, did not really settle well with me personally after some time. Somewhere within the sentences you managed to make me a believer but only for a very short while. I however have got a problem with your leaps in logic and one might do well to help fill in all those breaks. In the event that you actually can accomplish that, I could surely be impressed.
I am not really superb with English but I get hold this really easy to read .
fantastic issues altogether, you simply won a brand new reader. What would you suggest in regards to your put up that you simply made a few days ago? Any positive?
Exceptional post however I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Thanks!
Thanks for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting info .
Clove Dental, 284/1, First Floor, Whitefield Main Rd, above Dominos, Whitefield, Vinayaka Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560066 Phone: 082879 28325 clovedental.in
Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was searching for!
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
Thanks, I’ve recently been searching for information approximately this subject for ages and yours is the greatest I’ve came upon so far. But, what concerning the bottom line? Are you sure about the supply?
This really answered my problem, thank you!
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he just bought me lunch since I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! "We have two ears and only one tongue in order that we may hear more and speak less." by Laertius Diogenes.
Heya i am for the primary time here. I found this board and I in finding It truly useful & it helped me
out a lot. I am hoping to offer one thing back and aid others such as you aided me.
I really like your writing style, good info, regards for putting up :D. "All words are pegs to hang ideas on." by Henry Ward Beecher.
You have brought up a very wonderful points, regards for the post.
Some genuinely superb information, Gladiolus I observed this. "The trick is to make sure you don’t die waiting for prosperity to come." by Lee Iacocca.
Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for putting up.
Great remarkable things here. I?¦m very glad to peer your post. Thank you a lot and i’m having a look forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a mail?
A large percentage of of the things you point out happens to be supprisingly legitimate and that makes me wonder why I had not looked at this with this light previously. This piece really did turn the light on for me as far as this subject goes. Nevertheless at this time there is one point I am not too comfy with so while I make an effort to reconcile that with the central theme of the position, permit me observe just what the rest of your subscribers have to point out.Very well done.
Thanks for the strategies presented. One thing I should also believe is that credit cards providing a 0 interest often attract consumers with zero rate of interest, instant authorization and easy on the web balance transfers, nonetheless beware of the most recognized factor that may void the 0 easy streets annual percentage rate and as well as throw one out into the terrible house quick.
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thanks again
Undeniably consider that which you stated. Your favorite justification seemed to be at the internet the simplest thing to keep in mind of. I say to you, I certainly get irked at the same time as folks consider concerns that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the highest as well as outlined out the entire thing with no need side-effects , other folks could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
Hi! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
excellent issues altogether, you just won a brand new reader. What would you suggest in regards to your post that you just made some days in the past? Any positive?
so much fantastic info on here, : D.
It?s actually a cool and useful piece of information. I?m glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Appreciate it for helping out, good information. "I have witnessed the softening of the hardest of hearts by a simple smile." by Goldie Hawn.
Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any recommendations?
There is apparently a lot to know about this. I believe you made certain good points in features also.
Купить Официальный магазин стабилизаторов Lider в интернет-магазине Lider-Stab по выгодным ценам. Быстрая доставка по Москве или любой другой город России.
I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They’re very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are very short for beginners. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
You can certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to mention how they believe. At all times follow your heart. "We are near waking when we dream we are dreaming." by Friedrich von Hardenberg Novalis.
Whats Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to give a contribution & assist other customers like its aided me. Good job.
Really nice layout and wonderful written content, absolutely nothing else we require : D.
Keep functioning ,remarkable job!
Deference to post author, some fantastic selective information.
You are a very capable person!
Keep functioning ,terrific job!
You are a very intelligent person!
Unquestionably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the net the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked whilst other folks consider worries that they just do not recognise about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side effect , other folks can take a signal. Will likely be again to get more. Thank you
Обзор игрового сайта Вулкан Platinum и зеркала Вулкан Платинум. Тысячи видеослотов, 100 бонус на первый депозит и ежедневные розыгрыши с призами ждут вас.
Lovely just what I was looking for.Thanks to the author for taking his time on this one.
It’s going to be end of mine day, however before ending I am reading this fantastic paragraph to improve
my experience.
Thanks , I’ve recently been looking for info about this subject for ages and yours is the best I have discovered till now. But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure about the source?