We’ll likely look back on 2020 as a pivot year in employer-employee relations. Among the many changes that have taken root: the best candidates now expect flexible schedules as part of the normal course of business. Are you on board with the change? Has your company considered switching to flexible hours to attract top talent?
Work-from-home has become the new normal. The spread of COVID-19 has forced many employees out of the office. As a result, managers have lost much of their ability to directly oversee their teams. Given this reality, flexible hours come with the territory.
The transformation has gone beyond that, though. Even in organizations that need their employees on-site, a trend toward flexible hours has taken hold. To bring in the best workers, you need this tool to encourage a strong work/life balance.
Ready to take advantage of this powerful trend? Here’s how switching to flexible hours can help you draw top talent and improve your overall recruiting process:
Recognize In-Demand Talent
Do you want to attract the best talent? Of course, in the abstract, the answer to that question is a resounding “yes!” But, in practice, attracting top candidates means vying for people who have other options.
By definition, these in-demand workers will receive attention from other employers. You need to compete with these other opportunities. Every small source of value can make a difference. With that in mind, offering a flexible schedule provides you with one more potential bargaining chip.
Encourage Better Work/Life Balance
Flexible scheduling lets employees integrate their work lives more seamlessly into their personal lives. This can make them more productive and lead to higher job satisfaction. In addition, a better work/life balance provides an excellent draw for your best applicants.
After all, part of the appeal of highly competitive candidates comes from their self-starting attitude. They are the type of people who would thrive in a flexible schedule. You shouldn’t worry about giving up oversight; top talent will still reach high-performance levels no matter what.
This strategy doesn’t just let you attract top talent. It helps you keep them for the long haul. Retention represents a major challenge for highly competitive skills. Don’t burn out your best employees or give them a reason to look for a less stressful opportunity. Instead, offer flexible scheduling and build a foundation for a long tenure at your organization.
Build a Talent Pipeline
Flexible schedules don’t just help you attract the best full-time employees. It adds options to your team-building strategy in general. Along with your permanent staff positions, you can offer part-time and contract work as well.
Here are some of the benefits you can get from this approach:
Attract Specialty Talent – This program lets you focus on highly specific talent. Since you don’t need to fill a 40-hour workweek, you can find excellent candidates with aggressively focused skills that you can use more sporadically.
Broaden Your Appeal – Flexible scheduling opens you up to more applicants. You can now choose from freelancers, semi-retired experts, consultants, stay-at-home parents looking for extra cash, and loads of other people who aren’t necessarily looking for full-time employment.
Build for the Future – You can also build a long-term talent pipeline. When you lose a full-time staff member, you have a kind of “minor league” to draw from. This year’s contract worker might be next year’s permanent team member.
Flexible scheduling helps you attract (and keep) top talent. But how do you locate those amazing workers in the first place? It helps to have expert advice. By turning to a strong recruiting partner, like Recruiting In Motion, you increase your chances of finding the best possible team members.
Contact Recruiting In Motion today to learn more.
