Have you noticed the constant thread of woe regarding the lack of people available in the workforce today? As a business owner, you may think that the situation is dire, but all is not lost. Read on for a few thoughts on how to combat the challenges in today’s hiring shortages.
The general population continues to grow, but there is a crisis in terms of a disappearing workforce. Perhaps it is because of the so-called Great Resignation. Regardless of the reasons, there are creative ways to combat a loss in your personnel.
Increase wages.
You probably got into business to sell a product or service that you believe in. The main motivational point for you could have been to make money. That makes sense. To clarify that point, raising wages for your employees might not seem like a productive means to an end as it would reduce your overall earnings.
Consider this: if you increase your employee's pay, they are more likely to stay loyal to you and your company at large. A more dedicated workforce means more caring in their work. This will show in their output, productivity, and customer care. They will feel valued as employees and people who earn a living wage. Additionally, when your employees feel appreciated, staff retention is increased. Rollover diminishes when people no longer need to search for a higher paycheck. Once this occurs, they become more invested in seeing the company succeed. These employees tend to grow into managerial roles where they are valuable assets that will understand multiple aspects of the company because they have worked their way through different departments.
Often, when consumers learn of a company’s values and investment in their employees, they want to support that effort. People will buy your goods versus a competitor's products simply because you have a proven value set that they respect. Reputation matters.
Here is a story of a CEO who was successful using this strategy.
Tap the parents.
For many parents, even before the pandemic, providing proper childcare in addition to working a respectable work schedule was difficult to manage. The pandemic has thrown that schedule and its pitfalls into focus. Paying for childcare before and after school cut into their paychecks to the point that some left the workforce altogether.
What if you started an employer revolution where you invited your parent employees to work during their children’s school hours? You could encourage greater productivity by offering more time with their families and less financial output to pay for childcare.
Additional hours could be made up at home in a virtual or hybrid capacity if your product or service allows that. If your employees need to perform their job duties on-site, consider more flexible or alternative scheduling to accommodate their parenting needs.
An on-site childcare facility would increase productivity and bolster the employees. They will know their children are cared for and nearby. Pick-up and drop-off would be practically non-existent.
Many parents want to work outside the home and contribute financially; unfortunately, the logistics become difficult when managing competing schedules with only a set amount of time each day.
To keep your business running successfully, you need quality and dedicated employees. If the status quo is not working in your favor and you have trouble retaining staff, opt for some new strategies to gain dedicated employees.
