51 percent of Americans are not engaged at work. Here’s why..
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The 21st century is an age of innovation. More employers are setting higher standards in an effort to increase employee retention. Traditional 9 to 5 jobs will no longer satisfy most employees.
Last year, a national Gallup poll discovered that only 31 percent of Americans are engaged in their careers. With 51 percent of Americans not engaged at work, it is more important than ever for businesses to find new ways to attract and retain talent.
The millennials are the least engaged, while they represent the majority of the U.S. workforce. Unfortunately, many of them are not getting the jobs that they intended with their college degree and are forced to settle for low-paying entry level jobs to avoid unemployment.
As a result, many millennials are not actively engaged in these positions and tend to quit within a few months to find more fulfilling jobs. If employers want to attract and retain talent, it is important that they conform to the needs of the millennial generation.
As more employers set higher standards for employee satisfaction, employees will have higher expectations from companies.
In a previous article, I discussed five employers that are some of the pioneers in offering a better corporate culture for their employees.
Below are five more employers that have raised the bar by playing the perk card right.
1. CarMax
CarMax is America’s largest used car retailer, the company opens about a dozen new dealerships every year. As a CarMax employee, you are offered a great relocation package that includes temporary housing costs, moving expenses, and new home closing costs. In many cases, the company will buy your old home if you are unsuccessful in finding a buyer.
In addition to these, they have a Time Away policy for salaried employees which allows them to take as much paid time off as needed for their wellbeing.
“It is one of the most appreciated and desired benefits at CarMax and one that speaks to our culture,” says Michelle Ellwood (a CarMax Public Affairs Representative).
2. VMWare
VMware is a Silicon Valley software company which ranked #65 on the list of Fortune’s Magazine – Best Companies to Work For in 2015.
The Palo Alto software company trusts their employees to use good judgment in utilizing their unlimited paid time off. They do not monitor the amount of days taken off by employees.
The company is also philanthropic. They give all outstanding employees an estimated $3,000 to donate to their preferred charity. Last year, VMware was ranked #16 on Glassdoor as the top company with the best compensation and benefits.
3. Cisco
Cisco is a computer networking systems manufacturer based in San Francisco. This year, Cisco has been included in the Forbes list of America’s Best Employers.
At Cisco, employees can take up to 30 days of vacation, which excludes 16 hours of floating holidays and 20 days of general paid time off. Also, the company has an end of the year shutdown to allow employees to disconnect from work and engage in other activities.
“We have a trusting, professional culture and our PTO plan contributes to this. Employees have really liked the flexibility of our PTO plan,” says Brandon Walton (Cisco’s Program Manager of Human Resources).
4. Metis Communications
Metis Communications is a full service communications agency that works with emerging startups and big corporations.
The Boston-based company gives employees the opportunity to work from home on Fridays, three weeks of vacation time, a bonus vacation week in December, and charitable matching donations. The company states that employees stay on board for an average of 4 years. Many staff members find Metis Communications to be creative, fearless, and fun.
5. Squarespace
Squarespace is an NYC website company which has become one of the most popular website builders in America. At Squarespace, every staff member is also a co-owner of the company via their employee share option plan.
“There’s a willingness to go the extra mile to build something extraordinary,” says Michael Heilemann (Squarespace’s Interface Director).
After five years of service, the company gives employees and their families a paid vacation to any destination of their choice. Squarespace employees are also able to work at another international location as part of their exchange program.
As each year goes by, more and more employers get innovative about finding new ways to attract and retain new talent. As more employers raise the standard, employees will respond by choosing companies that value their wellbeing.
Unlimited paid time off is one of the many benefits that employers offer their employees in an effort to encourage company loyalty. Employers now understand that it is important to treat their employees like family.
Another version of this article appeared in CareerAddict.
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