{"id":3463,"date":"2023-04-13T15:27:21","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T19:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skypointfcu.com\/wph\/workarea\/?p=3463"},"modified":"2023-04-13T15:27:43","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T19:27:43","slug":"still-cant-find-good-employees-to-hire-try-these-perks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skypointfcu.com\/wph\/workarea\/blog\/still-cant-find-good-employees-to-hire-try-these-perks\/","title":{"rendered":"Still Can\u2019t Find Good Employees to Hire? Try These Perks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While big corporations make headlines for shedding large chunks of their workforce, many smaller businesses are still struggling to staff up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, nearly a quarter (23%) of small-business owners listed finding and retaining talent among the top challenges facing their business, according to an October 2022 NerdWallet survey<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beefing up your benefits package is one way to solve your hiring woes \u2014 and it doesn\u2019t have to be at the expense of your cash flow. There are cost-neutral perks that can make your company stand out to candidates, as well as big-ticket items for businesses with the budget to invest in benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increase paid time off<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It doesn\u2019t cost anything to offer more paid time off to employees, says Paaras Parker, chief human resources officer for Paycor, a payroll and human resources software company. And small changes, such as an extra day or two, can go a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How you frame that additional time off matters, too. Offering a paid mental health day or PTO for volunteering speaks to your company values and helps attract like-minded employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another time-off trend that can set your business apart: offering a sabbatical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This perk does carry a cost for employers, but companies can be strategic about how they structure their program, Parker says, noting sabbaticals can be a recurring or one-time perk that\u2019s unlocked after employees hit a tenure milestone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSabbatical usage isn\u2019t super high,\u201d Parker says. \u201cBut you don\u2019t know how many times I hear people say, \u2018Just knowing that I could do that provides me so much peace of mind.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offer more flexibility<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe No. 1 thing we see candidates [say] they\u2019re looking for in their next job is flexibility,\u201d says Jen L\u2019Estrange, founder and managing director of Red Clover, an HR outsourcing firm that specializes in small and midsize businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes flexibility on the big things, like when and where employees are expected to work, as well as small things like dress code expectations and other aspects of office culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA number of businesses we work with encourage people to bring their pets in,\u201d L\u2019Estrange says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A pet-friendly office saves your employees the expense of a dog walker or daycare but costs your business little to nothing. (Just make sure you\u2019re covered under your small-business insurance<\/a> policy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Businesses that can offer remote work would be wise to do so \u2014 48% of workers said they would \u201cdefinitely\u201d seek a remote position for their next job, according to a June 2022 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management Research Institute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And those with a hybrid model<\/a> can up the flexibility factor by letting employees choose which days to telework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Companies can also consider implementing \u201csummer hours\u201d and shifting to a shorter workweek \u2014 giving employees a half or full day off on Fridays \u2014 during the months of June, July and August. This gives employees more flexibility and time off, during a time they would normally use it the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stipends and stand-out perks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding perks and programs that center on learning and development, whether via an annual stipend or mentorship program, can help your small business stand out to job seekers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[Opportunities] for new employees to expand their network are great perks that might not be afforded to junior talent in larger companies,\u201d says Laura Mills, head of early career insights at Forage, an online learning platform. \u201cFeaturing these perks in job descriptions and interviews are great ways to prove your company\u2019s value to future employees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wellness stipends, work-from-home stipends and other subsidies can be monthly, annual or one-time benefits, depending on your company\u2019s budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have the funds to make more substantial investments, a monthly or annual student loan repayment benefit can be a game changer for recruitment. Only 7% of employers currently offer this benefit, according to the Society for Human Resource Management\u2019s 2022 Employee Benefits survey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding a health insurance option that includes coverage for fertility treatment or an employee assistance program that provides mental health benefits can also make your business stand out to prospective employees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consult with your payroll services provider<\/a>, accountant or financial planner to determine what is feasible for your business. And make sure you\u2019re broadcasting whatever benefits you do offer \u2014 and how they connect with your company\u2019s values \u2014 not just in job postings but also on your company\u2019s LinkedIn, Indeed and Facebook profiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCandidates do their research before the interview,\u201d L\u2019Estrange says. \u201cUsing what\u2019s available through those platforms is a wonderful way to showcase how you\u2019re different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More From NerdWallet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n