Employees

How Leaders Can Prepare for Their Employees’ Return to Office

Many business leaders are contemplating a full or partial return of their employees to the office post-pandemic. As they consider all the variables involved, they tend to categorize employees in two groups: those who are eager to return and those who are opposed. As executive recruiters, we work with clients and candidates who are experiencing either extreme, or somewhere in between…

The eventual return to the office, whatever that will look like in the future, can leave managers scrambling to figure out the best way possible to bring their team back into the office. Even when it comes to future hires, what is the best way to handle working in an office once again?

Here are some things that can make the translation smoother:

What Will the Workplace Look Like Post-Covid?…

I am a remote employee (have been since way before the pandemic) and wonder what the landscape is going to look like post-Covid as employees start getting their jobs back after being furloughed and workplaces start to find their new “normal”.

While searching for data to share with you, I found statistics in which I am positive will impact the working environment as we know it:

An Attitude of Gratitude in the Workplace

In my recruiting practice- one of the first questions I ask a candidate is why they are looking for a new job or are open to new opportunities...

The #1 answer, in one form or another, is that they currently feel underappreciated.

As we reflect on the last year (crazy to think it has been a whole year since we were told “10 days of quarantine would flatten the curve”)- let’s remember to thank our employees.  A few words of appreciation will go a long way. The pandemic has been hard on everyone- emotionally, socially, economically- but I marvel at people’s continued perseverance.

To that end, I wanted to take the opportunity to to shift our focus from the negative to appreciating what is positive. So, take a moment to stop, say 'thank you' and read the top 5 benefits of gratitude in the workplace I recently came across…

Hobson Associates' Jennifer Millea talks about ‘Women in Business Navigating Changing Times’

Hobson Associates Senior Staffing Associate Jennifer Millea recently participated in the Cheshire Chamber of Commerce's ‘Women In Business Alliance’ lunch in Cheshire, CT.  The Alliance is comprised of women business leaders and professionals in the local community who gather to share their professional experiences and collaborate on local opportunities. This month's theme was "The Changing Workplace" and Jennifer, along with other local business professionals, did presentations for the group. Jennifer's topic was focused on staffing and hiring trends in the workplace.

Why Companies Make Bad Hires

Hiring the right team is one of the most important decisions you can make. Check out what the folks at Fast Company had to say about it:

There are a lot of strategies around how to hire the right people, yet, despite best practices and concerted efforts, as many as 95% of companies admit to recruiting the wrong people each year, according to research commissioned by Glassdoor from management consultancy the Brandon Hall Group. What’s more, over a third of organizations reported being unaware of how costly that mistake can be.

Cost-Effective Perks to Attract Top Talent

Companies are getting creative to attract top talent. While employee benefits such as health insurance are still valued the most and have a significant impact on staff retention, other "perks" can help differentiate your organization. Soft benefits such as flex time, on-site childcare, well-stocked pantries, nap rooms, free subscriptions, and classes are making a difference in today's workplace. 

Research indicates that a growing number of executives are open to offering soft benefits.These types of extras can be a comparatively low-cost alternative to traditional benefits, helping companies attract and retain workers even if they are unable to provide or have had to scale back standard benefit packages.