Wanted: Web developer for cutting-edge dot-com. Competitive pay, benefits, equity. Must know Java and C++ and be willing to work no more than 40 hours a week.
Surely you have read this recruitment ad wrong. Or is it a typo? Silicon Valley is supposed to be the land of 100-hour workweeks, right? Not anymore. Recruiters are turning to a new perk: work/life balance. AudioBasket in the US competes for employees by touting their company’s more manageable working style as seen in their job ad as a competitive advantage.
Employees are struggling to balance their work and family responsibilities. Long hours, no time for their families and job stress are some of the most serious concerns facing workers today. For most employees, the ability to balance their work and personal lives is a key factor in determining their commitment to their employer. Creating a workplace that acknowledges employee needs and responsibilities outside the company walls is critical to attracting and retaining talent.
Work/life programs are powerful attraction and retention tools, benefiting both employers and employees. Adding work/life programs to an employee benefits package is a low-cost way to:
-
Increase productivity and efficiency
-
Reduce absenteeism
-
Reduce turnover
-
Attract new applicants
-
Improve morale
-
Reflect a positive corporate image
-
Provide a better quality of life
Companies can offer a buffet of services to help employees balance their work and personal lives. The following are some ways to simplify your employees’ lives:
-
Establish an on-site dry cleaning and shoe repair service
-
Provide package delivery services
-
Pet sitting and dog walking services
-
Coordinate household repairs
-
Establish utility connections for new residents
-
Coordinate moving and relocation services
-
Schedule airport taxi and limousine services
-
Schedule an on-site masseuse for weekly massages
-
Provide a monthly on-site car oil/filter service in the company car park
-
Provide an on-site ATM
-
Schedule a tee time
-
Purchase tickets to theatre, music or sporting events
-
Sell discounted movie passes
-
Order flowers
-
Provide a professional shopper to find, wrap and deliver gifts
-
Film development
-
Locate and pre-screening childcare centres
-
Schedule a plant watering service for employees away on holiday
Since the downturn in the economy, perks are more likely to be a budget issue as HR managers no longer have an open chequebook. Employers announce mass layoffs daily, but analysts still advise that the war for talent will continue on for at least another decade. So how does the savvy benefits decision-maker determine which employee perks are costly frills and which are key to employee recruitment and retention over the long haul?
Offering work/life programmes isn’t just about giving perks. It is an affordable, pragmatic way to address real business concerns that can directly impact on important issues such as recruiting, retention, quality-of-life, productivity and return on investment. When companies help their employees have more enjoyable lives off the job, the benefits to the company are seen in the form of increased productivity on the job.
Debbie O’Halloran
This article may contain 3rd party information which CaribbeanJobs.com has approval to use.
