It’s still about money of course; we all still have bills to pay. We want a good compensation and benefits package. This is what attracts employees to a company but there are other factors in play if employers are looking to retain workers. The fact is that we are looking at more than the tangible benefits in our workplaces these days. And by far not all employers deliver.
Purpose
For many of us, a sense of purpose rules supreme. Are we making a difference somehow to something or someone? Or are we just lining the pockets of the directors? We want to feel passionate about what we do for a living. It’s the reason so many of us are taking the leap to go it alone.
We spend so many hours per week doing our job and we need it to be fulfilling.
Recognition
This is not about the tangible benefits of our job; the salary, the health care perks, the vacation days. We have a need to be seen and appreciated for what we do. It costs an employer nothing to tell a worker that they have done a great job. Thanking an employee for giving their all is the least a boss can do.
Respect and Trust
Workers want respect from their bosses and their colleagues. That means embracing honesty. Keeping promises. This applies from the beginning, starting with the assurances given during the interview process.
When a boss fails to deliver on promises made, the trust is lost and the employer-employee relationship is damaged.
Work-Life Balance
It’s not just about our professional lives; we are concerned about our personal lives too. We are looking for a balance. Flexible workplaces and hours are in demand. The nine to five tradition is something that many of us can no longer get on board with. Do we really need to sit in traffic every morning to spend the day behind a computer in an office block?
Health and Well Being
We want a safe work environment. That is not just in the physical sense, but a place that doesn’t operate on stress and pressure, damaging our mental wellbeing in the process. We wanted to be treated as individuals, with personal needs.
We want learning opportunities and personal growth.
To be informed
As employees we want to know where we stand. What is our job function? What expectations does our manager have? We need clear and direct information and communication to be able to do our jobs effectively. We want to know what is going on. What does the future hold? We want to be a part of change and not have it thrust upon us.
What keeps us happy in the workplace is becoming more and more about the intangible aspects. Employers need to be creative and forward thinking to attract the best.
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