And let me start with a personal training session. And wait before you say, “Not a blog about why I should have a personal trainer,” quell your guilty conscience and read on!
During my weekly PT session, Chantal and I always talk. We talk about all sorts of stuff – the technical term used by people in the fitness industry for the conversational material shared during a session. I won’t bore you with all our subject matter but one specific topic I took note on: the new job her husband Scott had lust landed with Hasbro – the kids’ games company.
Between double crunches and single crunches, she did all the talking. I was concentrating on breathing! She described the job to help occupy my mind and minimise my pain, but her tone, manner descriptive words I found fascinating. Here are points summarise for you:
- Closer to home
- Less travel
- Great culture
- Four and half day weeks
- Wellness days
She went into great detail on each of these benefits for working with Hasbro. Between sets I quizzed her more, she revealed as much detail as Scott had told her – which was heaps!!! It was like opening a can of worms. The info just kept coming. I could tell they were both sold on what a great company this was and what an excellent career move.
When she finished, I asked what will he be doing, was there scope for growth and was his remuneration satisfactory.
“We are not 100% sure of his job and he won’t be earning as much as he is currently but that is OK. Look at the other reasons to work for them.”
And there is the lesson for all of us who employ people: employees these days are not just after the best packet. Sure it is a factor, but so to the culture and other factors that contribute to boosting personal energy and the illusive and clichéd ‘work-life balance.’
Companies like Hasbro, ACNielsen, Google and Patagonia Clothing get what employees seek in a boss. They are employers of choice.
And I understand they are big business, so they have a larger budget for organising and offering such opportunities but does that mean small business could not do the same? No way, of course they can and they should! But many don’t!
For many small business we consider, the cultural benefits of working for us a buffet Christmas party! And we provide work life balance as we don’t call you between 9pm and 7am!
In an ever competitive world for quality employees these added benefits attract people to work for you – regardless of the industry or category. We can’t provide lip service to these requests. I know many of us employees don’t see these employee features as a priority but to me this truly is managing your ‘human resources.” It is giving them what they need to be productive and more importantly happy!
I challenge every small business, to direct as much energy they have for developing a USP (unique selling proposition) for potential customers to developing a UEP – unique employment proposition – for potential staff. In other words, develop a list of benefits that employees receive when working with you.
In the world we live in now, those reasons or services must focus on balance, personal health and energy. That is what great employees want and we want great employees working for us.
Well done Hasbro, you have a new Manager starting in a week that has not yet received his first pay packet and is already telling people how cool it is to work for your company because they care about his health and energy. There is your UEP!
