What Matters to Today's Workers

The effects of the pandemic on the workforce continue to evolve at a rapid pace presenting new and unforeseen challenges employers must address. Many workers have rethought their priorities and what they want from their careers. In this article, we have highlighted what today’s workers most want so that employers can better position themselves to meet these new demands. Recognizing and adapting to these needs will help you optimize your talent acquisition and employee retention strategies.

Flexibility

One of the most significant changes that workers are seeking in the post-pandemic workforce is more flexibility. The pandemic has shown that remote work is a viable option for many jobs, and workers want the option to work from home, at least part-time. This flexibility can help workers balance their personal and professional lives and reduce the stress of commuting. Employers need to develop new policies that meet this need and ensure that leadership encourages them. Managers and supervisors must be equipped with new tools to adapt to the new way of working if they’re used to walking around cubicles, work floors or offices to see what’s going on. Also, employers need to hold employees accountable by setting expectations and measuring against them.

Mental health support

The pandemic highlighted the importance of mental health support for workers. Many employees struggled with anxiety, depression and burnout during the pandemic. With quit rates soaring and low unemployment rates, it is a career-seeker’s market and workers won’t settle for high-stress, time-intensive roles. Employers can address these needs by providing resources and support for mental health including access to mental health professionals, wellness programs and flexible work arrangements. In addition, you can encourage behaviors that sustain health and wellbeing as part of your culture and company offerings.

Fair compensation

Workers want to be fairly compensated for their work and paid a living wage that allows them to support themselves and their families, and keeps up with inflation. In a career-seeker’s market, financial compensation is always one of the top tools you have for attracting and retaining high-quality employees since they have other opportunities. This could mean pay increases, bonuses or other forms of compensation. If offering higher compensation is not an option, consider offering stock or equity, which makes candidates and existing employees feel valuable and offers them a compelling reason to stick around.

Career development opportunities

Workers also want opportunities to develop and advance in their careers. The pandemic has shown that the job market can be unpredictable, and workers want to be prepared for whatever the future holds. Employers can support their workers by providing training and development opportunities, mentorship programs, tuition reimbursement and other resources that help workers grow their skills and advance in their careers. Programs, such as on-the-job training to up- or re-skill current or future employees and registered apprenticeships, are great ways to provide continuous development. Consider your advancement and promotion approach. If your company doesn’t offer many hierarchical levels, consider level-type titles, e.g., Assistant Welder, Jr. Welder, Senior Welder, etc.

Diversity and inclusion

Workers want to work for employers who prioritize diversity and inclusion. The pandemic and other social occurrences have highlighted the inequities in our society, and workers want to work for companies that are committed to creating a more equitable workplace. They want to feel a sense of belonging and connectedness. Employers can look to hire more diverse candidates, promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and provide resources and support for underrepresented groups. One thing to consider is the makeup of your company’s board or leadership team. If leadership looks homogeneous, then consider how you can evolve it to be more inclusive and reflective of your workforce, which will benefit workers.

In conclusion, the post-pandemic workforce continues to shift revealing new challenges that employers are being called to address to attract candidates and keep valued talent. Today, workers primarily look for flexibility, mental health support, fair compensation, career development opportunities, and a workplace that values diversity and inclusion. Employers who prioritize these things will be better positioned to attract and retain top talent in the years to come.