Every employer should have a specific structure in place which manages their legal duties. This will take care of their responsibility to provide a safe and comfortable work environment, and will also cover human resources services, such as contracts, renumeration and pensions, and a structure to deal with harassment, discrimination, dismissals, redundancy and paternity/maternity rights. However, these are all essential duties of an employer. What makes a good employer is what they do to develop a strong culture, and one which reflects their vision for the business and its mission statement.
This is where one employer can stand apart from another, a competitor perhaps, to provide stability and growth for the business. A good employer can both attract and retain good employees. High staff turnover can be a significant cost to a business, so how does an employer position themselves to best look after employees, value and respect them? Here we have outlined seven key things an employer can do to inspire loyalty and to motivate employees to help the business to thrive.
-
Innovation
Being forward-thinking and progressive can be a huge attraction to potential employees. This can be with embracing technology, but also in being visionary, seeking fresh ideas and new ways of working. This suggests an employer is thinking long-term; developing an exciting place to work with lots of opportunities.
-
Flexible
Giving your employees some freedom is very attractive, and this can be achieved through working patterns and behaviours. In the digital era, non-traditional working hours are very common, and enabling people to work from home, or other locations, develops trust and understanding. Allowing employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance is essential to this, as is the idea that the business is promoting sustainable travel and reducing wasteful practices.
-
Communications
A good employer is a good talker, but also a good listener. It is important that an employer is a leader first and foremost, and this can mean being powerful, direct and inspirational. But communication is a two-way thing, so a good employer also needs to be a good listener. This means taking in different viewpoints to help manage change, avoid conflict and not make assumptions. Everybody deserves to be heard, and a good employer will enable everyone to have that kind of platform. Being a good communicator also means allowing everyone to share their opinions and to communicate openly between themselves.
-
Employee benefits
In addition to a basic renumeration package, a good employer will have schemes in place to reward, empower and incentivise employees. These can be salary sacrifice schemes, bonuses, salary increases, social events, health insurance or environmental benefits, such as cycle-to-work schemes. These promote a healthy work environment and a culture of fairness and inclusivity.
-
Supportive
Being supportive as an employer is not just about providing a mechanism for people to air their views and receive a fair hearing, although that is an essential part of a good HR structure, it is also about giving employees the freedom to work. This can mean empowering employees to make critical decisions and to work on their own initiative. This promotes teamwork, but also motivates and inspires people. It is important that an employer gives people the time and space to work in this way, and is supportive in this by providing the everyday freedom to do so.
-
Personal Growth
No business can afford to stand still, and that includes its people. A good employer should always be looking to improve people and to give them the necessary capabilities. This means developing their skills and providing them with a pathway with opportunities for training, qualifications and more responsibilities. Personal growth also comes from having a strong feedback and appraisal system where performance can be measured and discussed, and by recognising achievements in a way the employee is happy with.
-
Fair
The definition of fair can be taken in many different ways, but a good employer can demonstrate this through having inclusive policies and in showing respect to their employees. An employer with integrity will have no favouritism or personal prejudices, which could border on discrimination. Instead, being fair and open will help foster a culture of collaboration and will help to manage conflict. Much of this can be communicated through the brand identity of a business, and through its marketing and social media.
At Ison Harrison we can help you develop a strong culture within your organisation, with a robust HR system and a structure that encourages your employees to thrive. This will help retain and attract the best employees and will help your business grow at the same time. Do contact our employment law team today and let us support you in becoming the best employer you can possibly be.
