Many businesses are starting to realize that the more they begin to care for their employees, the harder and longer they work, the more self-actualized they are, and the more they are willing to stay with a company. This goes for the most ubiquitous fast food chain to the best Fortune 500 companies, and so it’s important to consider just what reasons we might have for not investing in an excellent staff support scheme. It’s important to consider, because coming to the answer of ‘very little’ is both quick and enlightening.
Yet becoming a prominently ethical employer in your field can be something of a different story. This effort can not only help you curate the best staff engagement, but care for them in a way that leads to long lasting success. It also helps you attract by far the best and most competitive candidates. Companies thrive when they are reviewed as the best firms to work for. So, just what ethical principles are worth chasing here, and how could we adjust our current approach to make sure this is followed? Or, if you’re a new firm, how could you begin in the right way? Let’s consider some of that advice today:
Diversity & Inclusion
Many companies are doing their best to curate a more diverse workforce as of late, with many deciding to strip the names, ethnicities and genders from resumes before looking at them. This way, the skills can speak, and people cannot hire others based on implicit biases or any other feelings of preference for a certain class. This imposes true neutrality on the hiring process, ensuring that the most important and qualified candidates win out. Furthermore, some companies have decided to be more proactive in engaging with certain communities, such as attending job fairs for certain universities.
Forthright Contracts & Outsourcing
While applying for a job can sometimes feel like squeezing ink from a stone, it’s important to note that more and more firms are trying to be as transparent as they can when outsourcing freelancers or using forthright contracts to attract candidates. From clearly listing salaries and expected work hours instead of the usual cloak-and-dagger approach some companies seem to prefer, to engaging with educational programs that enable staff to look to their future, forthright contracts and respecting candidates from the first moment they interact with your firm surely helps the enthusiasm of those who wish to work for you. You can use an employment law attorney to help you better understand your responsibilities.
Work/Life Balances
It’s healthy to promote a worthwhile work/life balance for your staff. This might involve ensuring that unless in emergencies, they will not be expected to reply to work emails or communications when off-shift. You may also invest in lifestyle programs that help them, such as a bike to work scheme which helps your staff feel healthier and pay for the cost of a bike without having to do so out of their own pocket. Work/life balances are hard to meet for most general workers, but having their employer on their side can be absolutely incredible.
With this advice, we hope you can continue to be a prominently ethical employer within your field.
