Attracting top talent has always been challenging, but the task has become even more difficult. A recent study suggests that labor shortages are among small business owners’ top problems, with 23% indicating that the quality of talent is their most significant issue.
The study also found that 50% of small business owners had job openings they couldn’t fill, a percentage that’s double the historical average. Among the owners who are hiring, 94% say there are few or no qualified applicants for their open positions.
While these findings are troublesome, the worst part is that small business owners don’t have much hope that things will get better in the near future. In fact, the number of owners who expect improved conditions within the next six months is at an all-time low.
The best benefits to attract qualified workers
Optimism may be down, but the good news is that there are many ways to attract qualified workers to small businesses. One of the best tactics is to offer benefits that are affordable for you and alluring to top talent. This strategy is perfect because it’ll also help you retain the new and current employees you have on payroll.
One of the biggest things that draw and keep workers is the benefits package. So, if you can offer things people want, you’ll not only attract top talent but also increase your chances of retaining them.
Even better, you’ll compete more successfully with bigger companies that want the same qualified workers you hope to have at your business. With excellent benefits, it won’t matter that you run a small company with 50 or 10 employees. If you offer what applicants want, you’ll get more qualified workers filling out applications.
But what do people actually want? What type of benefits will get them to consider working for your brand? There are six ones that you can provide to get your small business on top talents’ radar.
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Remote Work Option
Remote work has become one of the most attractive benefits any company can offer. But many companies are unsure whether they want to provide remote work options. A new study found that only 16% of businesses will continue offering a full-time remote work option, even though 44% of employees would like to work remotely full-time.
While startling, this is good news for you because it provides an opportunity to offer what most companies won’t. If you’re willing to let employees work remotely—especially if their jobs allow it—you’ll have a better chance of getting top talent.
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Paid Time Off
Another great benefit that many people want is paid time off. Today, most employees hope to improve their work-life balance, and one step to achieving that is with the ability to take a vacation while still getting paid. In fact, according to a survey of 1,500 U.S. workers, this is one of the top three benefits people seek.
Keeping that in mind, offering paid time off puts you in a position to get the most qualified workers. And if you provide unlimited paid vacation, you’ll really be well-positioned to attract top talent. Just make sure employees know there’s a caveat to getting unlimited paid time off: they must complete their work and hit deadlines. The last thing you want is for people to abuse the benefits you provide.
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Supporting Social Causes
Balance isn’t the only thing that workers care about these days. With so many social causes to support, people want to work for organizations committed to movements that are making a positive difference in the world. It could be anything from raising awareness around climate change to donating money to support black and minority-owned businesses. Workers just want to see that your brand is doing something to positively impact society. So, pick a social cause you believe in and that aligns with your company’s values. Then, find a way to support it and make your commitment known to applicants.
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The Opportunity to Expand Skill Set
One of the best things about working at a small business is that employees can learn new skills to develop professionally. This opportunity is not always present at more prominent companies because departments are usually siloed, and people are typically boxed into doing one thing.
But at a small business, you can give employees the chance to work on various projects and help in different departments. A smaller team leaves room for any and every one to help out with different tasks, and you should highlight this fact on every job posting. That way, applicants know your small business will foster professional growth.
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A Good Company Culture
The benefit of offering a good company culture cannot be understated. A survey recently found that 77% of people would “consider a company’s culture” before pursuing a job there. The same study also indicates that 56% of adults believe a good company culture is “more important than salary” when considering job satisfaction.
Why should you take this insight seriously? Well, if you can’t provide the most competitive salary, you can make up for it by offering a great workplace culture. This benefit is always a winner. People want to work at a company with awesome, hard-working people, high engagement levels, a respectful and friendly environment, and employee hangouts. If you can provide this, you’ll be that much closer to attracting top talent.
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An Impactful Mission
Most people want to make a positive impact. In fact, that’s what draws a lot of workers to nonprofits.
A meaningful mission is attractive. It helps people get up in the morning and tackle their days with enthusiasm, which is why your small business should have an impactful mission steering employees. More importantly, your company should operate with the desire to achieve its mission.
So often, business owners create great mission statements but run their workplace without the mission front and center, leaving employees misaligned, disengaged, and unenthusiastic. But if you can get employees motivated not only by the goal but also by the steps you all must take daily to achieve it, more people will hear about your company and want to work for you.
Employees are your greatest resource
Attracting qualified workers is one of the best things you can focus on, primarily because employees are your biggest asset. With a great team, your company will reach heights you never thought possible. You just have to focus on building it. And one of the best ways to do that is with benefits that get potential employees’ attention.