Although I did not specify an industry in which I completed Week 4, Discussion 1, I did write it with the healthcare industry in mind. With that being said, there are definitely some motivational factors and innovations in healthcare that attract and retain quality employees. The three employee benefits that I chose to elaborate on are the following:
Remote Work:
As COVID-19 reared its ugly head around the world, organizations had to be deliberate in creating ways to keep their heads above water and continue their operations. This resulted in a huge transition from traditional office work to creating remote positions. This is a great opportunity for the employees, but it is also a great opportunity for employers. Gosnell indicated that the benefits for employees and employers include enhancing team morale, employs planning for continuity of operations and increases retention and reduces turnover. Team productivity, communication, and corporate objectives are reached more effectively. It saves money for the employer and employee. Lastly, it increases the ability to hire the most qualified candidates. (2023).
Education & Professional Development:
Everyone who works has individual goals. Sometimes it is to promote through the ranks of the organization and sometimes it's to become more proficient at their job. Regardless of those intrinsic motivations, it is important for organizations to acknowledge and nurture those needs because it will increase the recruiting, retention, motivation, and morale of the organization. For the employee, it boosts self-confidence, self-worth, leadership skills, and builds their professional networks. Parsons stated, "professional development can be instrumental in growing a stronger team. Employers who encourage their employees to seek out professional development opportunities are in turn encouraging higher productivity and job satisfaction" (2022).
Flexibility:
In this day in age, where work/life balance is more important than it has ever been, so flexibility is a must. The newest generation entering the workforce values their time away from work and need the opportunity to detach when needed. Some flexibility options include remote work, hybrid work, and PTO opportunities. Emory University studied the benefits of flexibility in the workforce and here's what they found:
A flexible work environment:
- Increases engagement and productivity
- Improves business continuity
- Attracts and retains talent
- Improves parking on campus
- Enables effective utilization of space on campus
- Reduces commute times and traffic congestion
- Strengthens our commitment to sustainability
- Supports work-life effectiveness
- Demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of our employees
- Promotes diversity and inclusion
(Emory University, 2023).
References:
Emory University. (2023).Benefits of workplace flexibility.Human Resources.https://www.hr.emory.edu/eu/work-life/workplace-flexibility/benefits-of-flexibility.html#:~:text=A%20flexible%20work%20environment%3A,Attracts%20and%20retains%20talenthttps://www.hr.emory.edu/eu/worklife/workplaceflexibility/benefitsofflexibility.html#:~:text=A%20flexible%20work%20environment%3A,Attracts%2Links to an external site.
Gosnell, K. (2023, January 23).Why remote work makes good business sense.Business.https://www.business.com/articles/remote-work-good-for-business/https://www.business.com/articles/remote-work-good-for-business/Links to an external site.
Parsons, L. (2022, August 23).Why is professional development important?Harvard Division of Continuing Education.https://www.hr.emory.edu/eu/worklife/workplaceflexibility/benefitsofflexibility.html#:~:text=A%20flexible%20work%20environment%3A,Attracts%20and%20retains%20talenthttps://www.hr.emory.edu/eu/work-life/workplace-flexibility/benefits-of-flexibility.html#:~:text=A%20flexible%20work%20environment%3A,Attracts%20and%20retains%20talentLinks to an external site.