benefits

Enticing Potential Employees: 4 Strategies for Making Your Company an Attractive Workplace

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Attracting new and qualified employees can often be a challenging and complex process. There are many factors to consider when recruiting new employees, such as the background, qualifications, and educational history you are looking for. Many qualified applicants are searching for specific qualities in companies when job hunting. Therefore, not only will you need to be aware of the type of employees you are searching for, but you will also need to ensure that you have created a company culture that is conducive to their needs. The following information provides four helpful strategies you may want to consider in order to make your company an attractive workplace for job seekers.

Create a Desirable Company Culture

You should strive to create a desirable company culture by developing an environment that promotes innovation, inclusion, and diversity. This will allow employees to think freely and creatively to come up with new solutions to business problems. It will also show that the company is ethical in its hiring and promotion strategies. Everyone should feel like a valuable asset to the company, and employees should be encouraged to be respectful to each other despite their differences. All of these factors combined should help to create a company culture that attracts the top talent and discourages high employee turnover rates.

Offer Competitive Wages and Benefits

You will also need to make sure that you are offering competitive wages and benefits to your employees. The top talent wants to work for a company that values them and invests in their potential and professional success. Therefore, you should encourage their growth and always strive to reward hard work.

Make Ethical Decisions

Your company should strive to create a positive and ethical reputation for itself. This can be achieved through manufacturing products in an ethical manner that doesn’t damage the environment or communities. It can also be helpful to give back to your local communities through charitable endeavors and to listen to the feedback and concerns of your customers in order to provide them with the best products and services.

Become More Eco-friendly

Many companies are making a shift towards becoming more eco-friendly. This is something all businesses should consider because the health of our ecosystems is vital to our future. Ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and make more environmentally friendly decisions include reducing your energy and water usage, manufacturing products in a way that causes less harm to the environment, and disposing of waste in the proper manner through research and by hiring professionals, such as aerosol disposal services.

Overall, there are many ways you can make your company a more attractive option for talented and qualified applicants. You just need to strive to be ethical and compliant and to invest in the future of your employees. The aforementioned tips make excellent starting points and there are always ways to improve and grow in order to become a better company for your employees.

Guest author, Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball.  @LizzieWeakley

Why health incentives are a work perk you shouldn’t overlook

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When it comes to considering a new job, most people think first of benefits such as salary or paid time off. They’ll use those as the only measurement when considering whether to take what’s offered, or whether they should push harder when they bargain.

But here’s the thing: There are other tangibles that make just as much of an impact on your daily life as do salary and vacation or sick time. For example, what about not ever needing that sick time because your employer has helped you do whatever it takes to be as healthy as possible? Have you ever considered the idea of negotiating health benefits in order to achieve that end?

If you haven’t, you should. Health incentives—whatever you have and whatever you can negotiate—can help you not only feel better but reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Here’s what to consider as you review them.

 

How to Make Your Growing Business More Competitive

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Your business needs to be able to compete in its industry like never before. Today’s companies are competing with businesses who have truly milked every advantage imaginable to stay at the head of the pack. Your business cannot be behind in this process. Once a business starts to pull out in front of other competitors in their industry, they cannot afford to lose ground. They must keep up this momentum to remain a strong industry leader. The following are a few ideas to help your company compete on a whole new level.

Employee Upgrades

As the needs of your business change, you will need talent that can keep up with the pace. Sometimes you have to let employees go who are not cutting it to make room for new staff upgrades who can competently stay on top of the learning curve necessary to help improve company performance. As you weed out weaker employees who cannot keep up and replace them with stronger employees who can, you will find each department providing your company with the edge it needs to compete at a whole new level.

Offer New Benefits for Employees

More than ever before, companies are trying to keep employees by making work a fun place to be and offering benefits they and their families can enjoy. Beyond just the job’s salary, many employees stay loyal to companies who can provide dental, vision, and health benefits, as well as 401(k) programs. Take a look at the benefits you currently offer and see if implementing something like paid lunches, paternity leave, or life insurance might sweeten the deal for those you hire.

Expanding the Business

One way to make a huge competitive move is to expand your business to new locations. The more locations you are able to expand into and keep running with solid quarterly revenue, the more competitive you will prove to be in your industry. With every new location that you establish, this is a whole new revenue stream to help your business obtain the funds to react to the strategies other competing companies are using.

Conclusion

Competition is at the heart of modern business. If your company is not in it to win it, then it will start to lag behind other competing companies. Your company should always be poised to swoop in on any opportunity in the market that will ensure a competitive advantage. These opportunities are what will help your company to pull out in front of the other companies you are competing with in your industry or marketplace.

Dixie Somers is a freelance writer and blogger for business, home, and family niches. Dixie lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and is the proud mother of three beautiful girls and wife to a wonderful husband.

Job Injury: How to Quickly Recover from Getting Hurt at Work

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Many people are injured on the job each year. You may believe that most injuries are in high-risk or dangerous jobs, but anyone can be injured regardless of what they do for a living. After all, anyone can slip and fall, get electrocuted or run into other serious issues in the seemingly safest work environment. If you have recently been injured at work, you understandably want to move past the situation and recover fully as soon as possible. These helpful tips will guide you through the recovery process.

Get Medical Treatment

If you are a stoic individual who prefers to stay away from medical offices unless absolutely necessary, you may be inclined to try to rest and recover at home. However, it is best to get the medical treatment that you need so that you can recover fully as soon as possible. In addition, you need to document your injuries as well as your treatment so that you can obtain compensation for them. Documentation may also be essential if you need to pursue legal action.

Follow Your Workplace’s Reporting Rules

Your workplace likely has very specific reporting rules that must be followed after an injury occurs. If you had to leave suddenly to seek emergency medical care, you should contact your employer as soon as possible to discuss the requirements. If you are physically able to complete the paperwork before seeking medical attention, it may be best to cross this item off of your list as soon as possible.

Examine Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Your employer should discuss workers’ compensation benefits with you, and these benefits may pay for most or all of your medical expenses. In addition, they may reimburse you for lost wages. Some people have trouble filing a claim or getting a claim approved. You may need assistance from a family member if you are not well enough to focus on this step in the process.

Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer

Some workplace injury events may not be resolved to your satisfaction through a workers’ compensation claim. In some cases, you may feel as though you suffered needlessly because your employer was negligent, or you may be permanently disabled. In situations like this, it may be a smart idea to consult with a personal injury lawyer such as Blomberg Benson & Garrett and to learn about your legal options.

Workplace injuries can be painful and stressful. They can disrupt your life and leave you struggling financially. These important steps will help you to recover as soon as reasonably possible.

The 4 Core Qualities Of An Exemplary Workplace Design

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As a business owner, one of your main concerns is always going to be making the office as good as possible for the people working in it. This constitutes a huge part of keeping your employees happy. And that, in turn, is hugely important if you want your business to enjoy any kind of ongoing success, However, it can often be difficult knowing exactly what a great workplace looks like. The truth is, there are many different kinds of workplace, and no two are quite the same. Yet, different things work for different businesses. Nonetheless, there are a few basic qualities which are likely to be vital for anyone designing a new office. Let’s take a look at what those might be.

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Comfort

Your people need to feel comfortable at all times at work. Not only is this really quite a basic thing, but it also helps your employees to do the best work they possibly can. Making an office comfortable is mostly just a matter of ensuring that all the furniture is of the best standard possible. You should also work on having as much variety of furniture as possible. For example, some employees might find that a standing desk is more suited to how they feel comfortable. Consider the differences between people, and try to accommodate for everyone who works in your business. Comfort is the first and last word in employee satisfaction.

Safety & Security

Some aspects of workplace design are more important than others. Safety and security is one of those things which you really do need to spend a lot of time on getting right. After all, if your people are not safe in the workplace, then it is unlikely that your business will go very far. Ensuring safety and security is easier said than done, but it is also essential. It is a good idea to get your employees well trained up, as health and safety training is both a legal and a moral necessity. At the same time, ensure that the office design itself is one which has safety in mind at all times.

Open

Having an open design has many benefits, some of which you might never have considered. The truth is, different people work well in different ways. It is not true that everyone prefers an open space, or that everyone prefers a cubicle. People are different, and it is wise to try and accommodate for those differences as best as you can. This way, you can be sure that your employees feel well looked after. It might be wise, however, to place a slight emphasis on the office being more open than closed, as openness has been proven to have a positive effect on the atmosphere and therefore the working culture in an office.

Variety

Above all, look to include as much variety as you possibly can. As long as you are producing a bold, vibrant and dynamic workplace, your people will feel a lot more at home. And from that will arise a much better quality of work, now and far into the future.

Healthy #Team, Healthy #Business

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beefitsHow is your employee health benefit package looking?

If you want to retain the best employees, boost your reputation as an employer, and keep your team healthier to boot, a good health benefit package is a must.

A strong health package offers a lot of benefits to your employees, and ultimately to your business.

So just why does having a strong health benefits plan matter so much? And how can you choose the best plan for your business?

Health Benefits Help You Find and Keep the Best

The top benefit of a good health package is that you’ll attract and retain the best employees.

healthyGood health benefits are one of the top things employees are looking for.

Your health package can be the difference between whether the talented workers you seek take a job with you, or with a competitor who offers better benefits.

Health benefits let your employees know that their well-being matters to you, and that you’ve got their back if something happens. Your team will feel more valued as a result, and your business will benefit from better morale and long term loyalty.

Good benefits will also boost your reputation as an employer.

You’ll get known for offering something of real value to your team. That reputation will serve you well when it comes time to advertise for new staff.

Choose a Comprehensive Package

Your employees need to know that they’re covered for whatever they need.

Do your research and look for a package that will help your employees out with a wide range of health issues.

Take for example employees who suffer from heart disease, diabetes, or other long-term and difficult illnesses. With the right care, employees who are battling these conditions can continue to work, find fulfillment through their jobs, and offer a lot to your business.

A comprehensive package will help those employees.

As the following article looks at, adults with diabetes often suffer with tooth problems, so a package that also covers dental would be ideal for them.

Always Compare Options

If you’re looking for a strong health benefits package to offer your employees, you’ll need to compare options. There are many health plans out there, and not all of them are created equal.

You may find it useful to go through a broker.

A broker will be able to assess the specific needs of your business, and help you find a plan that meets those.

Pay attention to:

  • How much you will pay?
  • How much your employees will be expected to pay if your business isn’t covering the whole cost? Make sure this figure is comfortably in line with the wages they’ll be earning;
  • Which conditions are covered? This is especially important if you want to offer comprehensive support for a wide range of conditions.
  • How much they are covered for? Some plans will only cover certain conditions up to a paltry maximum amount.

Healthy Team, Healthy Business

Keeping your team healthy means keeping your business healthy in the long run.

Employees who can access decent health care will get help instead of struggling with a health problem because they can’t afford treatment.

Better care doesn’t just boost morale, though that is a key benefit of offering healthcare. It also helps your employees be physically healthier, meaning they’ll have more energy and better focus.

A strong health insurance plan helps you attract the right employees, and helps keep your team and your business strong.

About the Author: Tristan Anwyn writes on a variety of topics including social media, how to build customer relationships, content marketing and how to choose the best health insurance plan for your business.

 

Hire and Retain the Best with a Sound Retirement Plan

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Retirement is on just about everyone’s mind, especially talented professionals on the hunt for a new job.

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If you truly want to hire and retain the best recruits, then it’s a good idea to promote your small business’s benefits package and retirement plan.

With a sound retirement in mind, here are a few ways your business’s retirement benefits could help you attract the best employees.

 

Put Retirement Benefits First

Sure, benefits package goodies like health insurance, paid time off, and flexible spending accounts are all great, but job seekers are really drawn toward your business’s retirement plan.

From 401(k)’s to pension plans, a sound retirement plan might just be a deal breaker or, better yet, a deal maker.

With this in mind, it’s more important than ever to put your retirement offerings in the spotlight when it comes to your job listing.

Recruits want to know if they’ll be taken care of after their working days are over let alone while they’re hard at work. Promoting your business’s retirement plan is an upfront means of showing potential employees you have their interests in mind.

 

Competitive Edge

It doesn’t matter if your business is small, medium, or large, chances are you’re in direct competition with other businesses. This is especially the case during the recruiting process.

As the following article shows, in order for your business to set itself apart from the rest of the competition, you need retirement plan solutions.

Whether you offer an accelerated 401(k) or a profit-sharing plan, promoting your retirement plan will help set your business apart from the rest.

Seeking Long Term Job Seekers

Your small business doesn’t want to get caught up in the recruitment process every other year. Besides, it’s more cost-effective to keep an employee than to hire a new one.

With this in mind, promoting your business’s retirement benefits will help you find the long-term recruits you’re looking for.

Including your retirement plan information directly in your job posting and on job boards is the perfect way to find employees who are looking for a career and not just another job. When your business showcases its retirement plan, it shows career seekers that you’re a long-term employment solution.

 

Choosing the Right Plan for Your Business

There are a number of retirement plans your business can provide its current and potential employees.

With more and more recruits becoming retirement-savvy, it’s important to choose a retirement program that truly benefits your employees.

In terms of traditional retirement plans, the 401(k) is the standard among millions of businesses. With a 401(k), contributions are tax deductible and you, the employer, are able to contribute to your workers’ accounts.

There are also Simplified Employee Pension Plans, Employee Stock Ownership Plans, and Savings Incentive Plans among others. Whichever plan you choose to provide to your employees, make sure you highlight its benefits throughout the recruiting process.

When it comes to hiring the best, promoting a sound retirement plan can help your small business get talent in the door.

About the Author: Adam Groff is a freelance writer and creator of content. He writes on a variety of topics including job hunting and employment.