As the Co-Founder of ZSA Legal Recruitment, I've discovered a lot of companies nowadays are adopting growing trends when it comes to employee recruitment and retention.
In fact, many companies are now offering employees health, wellness and green incentives. This has proven beneficial to both the employee and employer. More and more I see businesses using innovative “perks” that go beyond the traditional financial benefits characteristic of the past. Improved vacation allowances, gym memberships, pro-bono opportunities and family friendly policies are just some of the changes that are becoming vital in an increasingly competitive and dynamic market of recruiting and retaining legal talent.
Health and wellness trends are an exciting development in the employment market. Unlike traditional benefit plans which tend to focus on treating the illness, these new initiatives focus on the prevention of the illness in the first instance. In turn, these opportunities lead to positive consequences for the employer, through a happier, healthier and ideally more efficient workforce.
Another popular perk offered by employers is the facilitation and encouragement of personal growth opportunities. In Canada, for example, many law firms are increasingly placing value on providing high-quality learning and offering extensive professional development opportunities for lawyers, as well as encouraging public service work.
Firms are also beginning to set themselves apart by providing workplaces that encourage respect for the environment and foster green initiatives. In this case, helping the environment is not the only payoff, as I’ve found that green initiatives can also help attract new talent, increase productivity and reduce costs. What’s more, studies show that students coming out of school increasingly place value on workplaces that have less of a negative impact on the environment. Preliminary studies also link eco-friendly workplaces to higher productivity and less absenteeism.
Health, wellness and green initiatives are indicative of the times. Companies big and small are increasingly realizing that fostering employee health and wellness, and helping the environment, can be in line with their long-term business objectives. Some of these initiatives can cost businesses very little, but they can also have a big impact on branding, and more important, recruiting and retaining talent.