Becoming an employer of choice: 4 reasons it’ll benefit your business

With the current talent shortage – employers need to be aware that candidates are in high demand, so businesses need to up their game when it comes to securing and retaining talent. Flexible working has changed everything and now that employees are no longer limited by geography when it comes to job opportunities, it means the group of potential hires just got exponentially larger for organisations looking to fill open roles. While this is great news, it almost means that the competition for the best candidates is fiercer than ever before, and it puts those looking for work in charge.

Citation HR is focused on helping create an optimal workplace employees don’t want to leave. So, if you want to stand out and secure the ideal workforce before they’re lost, apply to become an Employer of Choice (EOC).

‘Employer of Choice’ – according to who?

Presented each year by the Australian Business Awards, Employer of Choice accreditation recognises organisations that demonstrate the core values of business innovation, product innovation, technological achievement, and employee engagement. Essentially, it motivates employers to surpass their own expectations and deliver the best in terms of recruitment, engagement, and retention.

Employer of Choice: why it’s worth pursuing

Workplace culture, policies, and overall employee satisfaction don’t improve instantly. Instead, these aspects improve with small, significant steps. Organisations which participate in the EOC process are given the opportunity to go up against the top global performers, earning the right to be recognised as the elite of their industry.

To gain the benefits of EOC accreditation, businesses are required to demonstrate their achievements across these key areas:

• Organisational culture and leadership.
• Employee education, training and development.
• Employee health, safety, and satisfaction.
• Performance management.
• Recognition and remuneration.

What’s being assessed is the culture within your business. The more you invest in building culture the more you’ll reap the rewards in productivity, employee satisfaction, and overall workplace happiness.

Here are our four tips for becoming an Employer of Choice and standing out:

1. Set up a calm, peaceful, and inspiring workplace

It’s the small things that make the biggest difference. Investing in good-quality items for your staff from their equipment and tools right through to their office set-ups can have a massive impact on retention. Ensuring that your employees are comfortable at work will help to increase their overall enjoyment at work, satisfaction, and likelihood to stick around.

This extends to recruitment as well. When an employee is interviewing, they’re not only taking in the people they meet but also their surroundings. You want them to leave with the impression that your workspace would be a great place to work, visually and culturally.

2. Adding value, benefits, and incentives

Everyone wants to get the most out of their employment, so it’s a no-brainer that businesses should invest in a benefits package that adds value and provides incentives for employees. It may seem obvious, but it’s something all businesses need to be aware of – the benefits you offer can be interpreted as a measurement of how much your business values your employees – this is why it’s so important that your business puts some real thought into choosing incentives that’ll inspire your employees. Offering meaningful incentives and benefits is also a great way to get ahead of your competitors and attract quality candidates into your organisation.

3. Seamless procedures and processes

No one likes jumping through hoops to get things done, so ensuring that your processes and procedures don’t involve pointless roadblocks will go a long way to reducing any time wasting and making your workplace more efficient and productive.

4. Open and honest communication and feedback

Being able to talk openly and honestly with your staff ensures that their thoughts and opinions are taken seriously and valued. Forging a good relationship between the employee and the employer will help to solve any issues before they become problems, squash disputes before they escalate, and avoid any miscommunication.

Avoid the admin and create an EOC-worthy culture.

A big part of standing out as a distinctive employer is making HR something employees look forward to instead of dread. Part of that means making HR admin for employees easy, efficient, and intuitive – that’s where Citation HR can help. Citation HR Software which is a standard part of our subscription, has an Employee Self-Service that significantly reduces HR admin and streamlines your HR processes – it certainly enhances your employee experience and helps create an EOC culture. After all, managing employee well-being is something Citation HR is an expert in. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation chat to see how we can better your HR processes.