The Great Resignation: Unique perks to retain employees
From escape rooms to ergonomics, employers are going to new lengths to attract high-quality talent.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people view their typical 9 to 5 jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4 million Americans quit their jobs in July 2021. Oftentimes, people quit after experiencing a life-changing event, and the coronavirus has upset many lives with businesses having to shut down completely or switch to remote work. The U.S now has a record number of job openings and employers are faced with two challenges: looking for ways to retain their current employees and enticing new talent to come on board.
The highest resignation rates are currently among mid-level employees. In the past, younger age groups had the highest employee turnover. One important factor affecting mid-level employees is burnout experienced from the increased demand in needs due to working remotely. Statistics show the greatest increase in resignation rates come from those between the ages of 30 to 45 with an increase of more than 20% between 2020 and 2021.
Related: Why supporting your millennial managers may help during the ‘Great Resignation
Employers are now evaluating the reasons behind these resignations and trying to remedy the problem areas and provide added, unique benefits.
According to recent data provided by job posting platform Talent.com, many unique trends, from escape rooms to ergonomics have been implemented by employers to attract high-quality talent as well as keep hard-working employees happy.
Escape Rooms are currently being used to help employees relieve stress by taking their minds off work tasks and instead focusing on bonding with other employees. Recent research shows escape rooms help boost employee productivity, overall mood, and culture in the workplace.
Thanks to COVID-19 and lockdowns limiting movement, employers are now encouraging employees to take “nature breaks” such as walks outside for some fresh air. Recent research says spending time outdoors often helps improve memory, as well as the ability to focus and be more creative.
Another employee perk being more commonly implemented is unlimited vacations, also known as unlimited PTO. This allows employees to take time off whenever they need, which avoids burnout and shows workers they are appreciated and valued by their company.
Sleeping pods are currently being utilized by more and more companies thanks to the health benefits of power naps, which include enhanced memory, improved cognitive performance, and stronger logical reasoning according to Medical News Today. In many countries, such as Spain and Japan, a midday nap has long been part of the workday.
With so many employees suddenly working in haphazardly put-together home offices, ergonomics is currently under the spotlight. Having pain from working in an uncomfortable setting, better desks, chairs, computer monitors, stronger wifi, and more are being considered now to increase overall productivity and workplace contentment.
With much of the workforce now reevaluating their jobs, it’s now more important than ever for employers to stay current and create better ways to compete with other companies in the workforce. Creating a unique employee culture along with benefits that show your employees your company cares, helps garner interest from new talent and prevent overall burnout in times with high resignation rates.
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