More than 30 million Americans have quit their jobs since the spring of 2021 in what has been dubbed the Great Resignation. Companies may find that recruiting qualified employees during normal times can be a challenge, but in the wake of a global pandemic, it is more important than ever that these companies understand how to attract workers and their needs in order to recruit and retain them.
Employee benefits are one of the most important parts of a company’s hiring strategy. Benefits not only attract workers, but can also foster workplace equity and a sense of belonging.
Laura Fuentes, Chief Human Resources Officer at Hilton, and Celeste Warren, Vice President of Global Diversity & Inclusion at Merck, share their views on equity and benefits.
Both women agreed on the essenciality of paying attention to the change that is occurring with the entry of new generations into the workforce: the one-size-fits-all model does not work when there are more than five different generations in several companies. Hilton and Merck use surveys and data to find out what their employees really need and want.
“If you create benefits, policies, and programs that don’t fit the needs of employees, it’s a waste of time, energy, and resources,” Warren says.
The pandemic has shown that companies must provide better mental health services and destigmatize these difficult conversations for workers. According to Fuentes, by offering counseling and encouraging open conversations, among other resources, Hilton has achieved a 10% increase in its workers’ comfort level in discussing mental health.
Although significant improvements have been made recently to foster inclusive work environments, companies need to keep pushing. As Warren said, all critical societal issues ultimately come back to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Ultimately, workers want to feel valued and respected in their workplace. According to Fuentes, by being “diverse by nature and inclusive by choice,” companies can attract workers and make them feel appreciated and fulfilled.
The International Iberoamerican University (UNIB) offers programs related to this topic, such as:
Source: To attract and keep workers, make sure benefits reflect what they want, say these people leaders
Photo: All rights reserved
