The pandemic (COVID-19) had an immense effect on the overall nature of the work environment. Due to no other choice, many businesses had to transition to remote work, and as a result, employees have come to appreciate this arrangement’s flexibility and work-life balance. Therefore, as we move into the post-pandemic world, we as business owners must adapt our retention strategies to attract and retain top talent in this new environment. Read on to learn more about how to adapt to the new normal of the post-pandemic world:
Offer Flexible Work Arrangements
Flexible work arrangements help show employees that their well-being is valued and create a positive work-life balance. Statistics show that flexibility is a key component for today’s modern employees and needs to be addressed and updated for today’s workers. All generations of workers expect and prefer more flexibility in their chosen work. According to a LiveCareer Study, 64% of Gen X, 69% of Gen Z, and 76% of Millennials call flexibility a high-demand working option.
Invest in Employee Development
To stay competitive, employees must continually develop new skills. Businesses today should invest in their development in order to stay relevant and competitive in today’s post-pandemic culture. This means offering benefits like tuition reimbursements or training programs for loyal employees. It could also include sending them to workshops or conferences in order for employees to learn techniques on how to further succeed in their careers. While some employees are content to start at one level and pretty much not move up, that is the exception, not the rule.
In many cases, employees, especially those considered top talent, are eager and willing to move up in the industry and want to invest in their own education, knowledge, and skill as much as possible. The Career Optimism Index, compiled by The University of Phoenix, reported that around 68% of employees stated that they would happily remain at their current employer if that job offered them a way to upskill or train them, giving them opportunities for advancement.
Create a Positive Work Culture
The drudgery portrayed in the 1999 movie Office Space is not at all what modern workers want. The dull, humdrum, and repetitive nature of office work is enough to drive most people crazy, and the way it is portrayed in this movie is bookended by having to spend hours in the car moving mere feet at a time is just arduous. It also presents a job environment where personal development and even the personal needs of employees are ignored or woefully overlooked.
However, you can do a lot to create a more positive environment within your office, even if your work is computer-based and sedentary. Employees today value work environments that promote cultural values while showing them respect and supporting them as valuable team members. This attitude is one that is vital to attracting top talent. It also helps manufacture a happy, productive workplace.
Show Appreciation for Employees
Showing appreciation for employees’ hard work is important. This is just as true now in our society today as it ever was, and perhaps even more so today with the competition being so fierce for talent between companies. To give your business a leg up, be sure to recognize your employee’s accomplishments, value their contributions, and say thank you. Try one-on-one meetings or team-building activities for other ways to show your employees you value them and all they do for your company.
Additional employee appreciation ideas could include offering food for employees, giving bonus days off with pay, expressing gratitude in public or on social media, creating team awards, offering gym memberships or gift cards, and much more. Really, anything that will tell your employees you appreciates what they do and notice their hard work is a step in the right direction.
Pay Competitive Wages
Money talks in business and all throughout life. Therefore, the final way to retain top talent, especially now that we have moved past the pandemic, is to offer a fair and competitive wage. Although all the tips listed above are helpful, if you fail to pay your employees competitive wages in today’s job market, you risk losing them to another company that will pay up for what they are worth. Remember, although they are the employees, not owners, the laborers, the people who do the day-in and day-out tasks are vitally important. Without them, no business would get very far.
Keep that in mind when evaluating salary and always be as generous as possible with employees as this will help retain them and ensure they are loyal and content. It’s important to note, though, that competitive pay can include more than just compensation in the form of salary; it can also include benefits, compensation packages, bonuses, and other types of perks that can set your business ahead of others.
It’s a New Normal
Today’s job market is different from what it was during the pandemic and before. Nothing really can be done to change that, as this is a new normal. Thankfully, by following the strategies listed above, you can adapt to this new environment and even thrive by creating a workplace where employees are happy, productive, and engaged. At TPC, where we are More Than Payroll, we are happy to help you follow through on these changes and even look at additional ways to retain high-quality talent. Contact us today to learn more. 
