Welcome to our HR Strategist column. This monthly column will focus on the strategic side of Human Resources, helping us ensure our People and Talent strategies are driving the results our businesses need. I’ll follow the list of topics that we discuss in our Executive HR Peer Group. In March we discussed becoming an employer of choice or at least improving the employee experience.
It’s called by many names. Employer of Choice. Best Place to Work. Best Companies in NC. Great Place to Work. Glassdoor Best Places to Work. Exceptional Workplace. Psychologically Safe Workplace. Well Workplaces. Employees’ Choice Workplace. Top Workplaces. Inspiring Workplaces. In fact, there are over 50 different awards out there that your company could choose to pursue. Many members of my HR Executive Peer Group have won several of these awards and they report it represents a validation to employees and applicants that their company is in fact a great place to work helping both attraction and retention.
Should you pursue one of these awards? Like any good executive consultant, my answer is… it depends. When it’s part of a larger HR/people strategic plan, these awards provide internal and external validation and some structure to help focus your HR programs to improve the employee experience. Many of these awards in fact provide a good framework to follow to create a great place to work. And when our actions match the award, they confirm what your employees feel every day – a company working hard to create a great employee centered culture. As one of my peer group members said, “we proudly display on our website ‘Best Places to Work in NC since 2012’ and it is definitely a powerful attraction and retention tool.”
On the other hand, if your workplace is toxic, or you have elements of a “sick” workplace culture, paying for and somehow winning one of these awards can have an extremely detrimental effect on your workplace and your brand. We’ve heard of companies who threaten or bribe employees to fill out the required survey in a positive manner. Awards in these workplaces create cognitive dissonance for employees. Everyone knows the award isn’t deserved, new employees find out soon enough and leave, and existing employees’ engagement tanks even lower. These workplaces need a strategic HR intervention, possibly new leadership, but definitely not an award!
Before pursuing any sort of workplace award, first take an honest assessment of where you stand from a people and culture standpoint. Most of these surveys are measuring these components:
- Clear and understood mission, vision and values.
- Positive people managers who balance care with performance coaching.
- Positive and inclusive workplace culture where employees feel valued and respected.
- Competitive total rewards package.
- Clear opportunities for growth and development.
- Sincere aim for work life balance and flexibility.
- Recognition and rewards program for outstanding contributions.
- Open and transparent communication throughout the organization.
- Constant encouragement of employee involvement and input.
- Commitment to social responsibility and community engagement.
- A culture that values and celebrates differences.
- Programs to support employees’ physical and mental well-being.
- Commitment to provide employees with the latest tools and technology to do their jobs.
- A regular cadence of employee surveys to enhance the workplace.
If this list describes your company for the most part, go get that award and let the world know when you win! If not, then get to work improving whatever workplace dimensions are below par. In today’s ultra-competitive labor market you can’t afford to underperform on the people and culture dimension. Many people I talk to are buried in day-to-day administriva of HR and just don’t have the time or skills to improve culture. Catapult’s HR on Demand team of over 20 consultants can help with HR tasks, operations, engagement surveys, or strategic priorities. Don’t know where to start, reach out to me at (919) 713-5244 or doug.blizzard@letscatapult.org and we’ll get you on the way to that award!!
