It’s fair to say that post-COVID, both workplaces and the expectations of job seekers have changed dramatically.
Gone are the days of the traditional 9-5 office job, yet many businesses have been slow to adapt, making them appear unattractive, outdated, and less invested in their employees.
Want to create a workplace that meets modern-day expectations? Here’s what job seekers expect from workplaces in 2024, and how businesses can make positive changes.
1. Flexible work setups
The truth is, people no longer want to work 9 to 5 hours in an office for 5 days a week. This may be difficult to understand for ‘old school’ businesses, but flexible working is a tried and tested setup that can work for a whole range of companies.
Flexible working means creating work arrangements that suit an employee’s needs. This empowers an employee to choose what time they begin to work, where to work, and when they finish. It’s not about employees turning up whenever they want but instead, helping employees manage their work schedule in a way that helps their productivity, well-being, and work-life balance.
Not having your staff under the same roof every day will mean letting go of the reins a little, though how concerning this is will largely depend on how much you trust your team. If you’re willing to take the plunge, the rewards are yours for the taking. You might even consider hiring internationally and reaping the benefits that a global team has to offer, like new skills and entry to new markets.
And if you’re not ready to take the plunge with a fully-remote framework, it’s still worth considering a hybrid approach. Remember: in the minds of most employees, flexible working is a right, not a privilege!
2. Good work-life balance
According to research, a poor work-life balance is the 2nd most common reason to turn down a job, so if you’re struggling to attract new talent, this could be why.
By promoting a healthy work-life balance, you’re demonstrating that you (and the business as a whole) recognise employees as individuals. It’s an acknowledgement that your team members have lives outside of work.
There are small changes all employers can make to maintain the balance between work and personal life, such as having clear boundaries that don’t allow work to slowly creep into people’s personal lives. For example, not having meetings between 12 pm and 3 pm (a popular time to have lunch) or not expecting employees to respond to work-related emails outside of working hours, and ensuring that employees take notes during meetings to stay engaged and retain information.
When people feel like their personal and family life is important to their employer, they are more likely to be engaged, which is a win-win for businesses and employees.
3. A good range of benefits
Unfortunately, many businesses still offer the bare minimum when it comes to employee benefits. Free fruit and a pizza party every other month aren’t enough. Want your employees to feel genuinely valued? Ditch the superficial benefits and offer generous annual leave, wellness packages, or a four-day workweek.
A good benefits package can make employees feel valued, which leads to higher job satisfaction, better productivity, and motivation. In a competitive job market, a robust benefits package can be a significant factor in attracting and retaining top talent.
When creating your benefits package, consider including elements that positively impact both the professional and personal aspects of your employees’ lives. Professional benefits like training and development plans or bonuses can enhance career growth, while personal benefits such as comprehensive insurance plans or generous maternity leave can provide essential support. Offering a well-rounded benefits package ensures the overall well-being of your employees. When employees feel supported in all areas of their lives, their satisfaction and morale increase.
4. Diverse and inclusive teams
Did you know that 39% of job seekers won’t even apply for a role if they don’t consider an organisation inclusive? And with studies proving that diverse teams are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors, building a diverse, inclusive workforce isn’t just valuable for your employees — it’s brilliant for business.
However, taking a culturally blind approach won’t help anyone. Diversity is about acknowledging and celebrating differences, not ignoring them altogether — or worse, turning your recruitment process into a box-ticking exercise. It’s about fostering a culture where all employees feel valued and empowered to contribute.
This can be achieved through diversity training, along with much smaller changes, such as updating company policies regarding dress codes, hairstyles, and tattoos.
Ultimately, by celebrating rather than stifling diversity, you’ll create an environment where employees thrive, innovation flourishes, and your business stands out as a brilliant place to work.
5. More holiday allowance
Nowadays, job hunters expect businesses to offer much more than the minimum amount of annual leave. This has even led some companies to implement ‘unlimited’ paid time off, though how beneficial such policies are is still up for debate.
In any case, an ‘all work and no play’ culture isn’t likely to bring out the best in your employees, nor will it attract new talent into the fold. And while an ‘unlimited’ approach might not fit your business, offering a generous holiday allowance will demonstrate that you value work-life balance and understand the importance of downtime.
People want to work in an environment where annual leave isn’t treated as a privilege. Your employees need time to reset and recharge. Provide this, and you’ll be rewarded with a more motivated, engaged workforce — and plenty more applicants on your next recruitment drive!
If you want to become an attractive employer, you need to innovate in line with changing expectations — don’t get stuck in outdated ways of working. Being open to change, adaptable, and fair will only help your business grow. Whether it’s developing diverse and talented teams or improving the quality of work due to better staff morale, staying in tune with workplace trends will ensure you continue to reap the benefits.
