Puppy perks: How to succeed in recruiting and retaining millennial job-seekers

America’s ever-evolving labor force—the same labor force that saw 4.5 million Americans voluntarily quit their jobs in November 2021 alone—has taken hold of companies of all sizes and industries. And, like all challenges the pandemic has brought, we’ve been forced to pivot to meet the needs of current and future employees in this job seekers’ market.

For HR and benefits professionals, the question remains: how do you remain relevant during this continued time of uncertainty? Current studies point to a desire for more flexibility and options, with 72% of people claiming that the more benefits they have, the happier they are with their job.

Related: 3 trends driving employee benefits

Additionally, by 2025, millennials will represent the largest portion of the workforce, with the majority of them already being pet owners. With millennial pet-owners leading the job market, pet health insurance will remain a leading workplace perk to recruit and retain talent. Comprehensive accident and illness pet health insurance plans, as well as wellness plans for preventative and expected pet care, can help provide pet parents with peace of mind and added protection—something we can all agree is crucial living in unpredictable times.

From pet perks and flexible schedules to mental health and childcare benefits and more, there is no one-size-fits-all formula for creating the perfect benefits package that reaches all millennial job seekers. As companies continue to assess their benefits offerings, consider the following tips for appealing to new and current employees:

Diversify your benefits package. In this era of the Great Resignation, the more traditional, pre-pandemic benefits are just not enough to capture the attention of today’s millennial employee. Benefits like pet health insurance are still very exciting to employees, but amid the current pandemic, we’ve never seen more demand for our virtual telehealth services through our pet helpline.

Stay flexible. The pandemic has illuminated the importance of remaining flexible in all facets of your business. The ability to adapt should be the first component of your retention strategy.

Prioritize affordable and practical perks. We know that four out of five pet owners will face an unexpected vet bill. With pet insurance, pet parents can have peace of mind knowing they’re protected, taking the financial worry out of owning a pet, so they can focus on making the best decisions for their dog or cat. Policyholders can select from plans that can cover accidents, illnesses and routine care, all customized to fit their pet’s needs and their budget, as well as get treatment from any veterinarian of their choice with access to easy and accurate claim processing. Customers can also easily file claims using their smartphone, make adjustments to a policy, add pets and access claim status and details online or through their mobile app.

Acknowledge remote work is here to stay. With some exceptions, remote work and hybrid schedules will be the norm for years to come. As our pandemic puppies begin to celebrate their 2nd birthdays, it’s time to lean into working from home without creating anticipatory anxiety about a “return to normal.”

With the demand for additional work perks growing, adding a portfolio of voluntary benefits to your company is becoming more of an expectation from millennial jobseekers. To make sure you’re positioned well to attract the best talent, consider offering pet insurance as a benefit for the pet owners at your company.

Melissa Gutierrez is senior vice president and general manager at Pets Best Insurance, pet insurance coverage underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company.

Read more:

• Pet parents are seeking a sense of community. Employers can help.
• Americans willing to spend as much on pets’ health care as their own
• U.S. pet insurance market is ripe with opportunity