Hoping to attract top-of-the-line workers, a substantial number of employers are improving the employee benefit packages they offer to their staff, a new survey suggests.
According to the staffing and recruitment firm Accountemps, nearly half – 46 percent – of chief financial officers polled said that they are upping the perks of their employer-based coverage offerings, hoping that by doing so, it will encourage more workers to apply with them rather than competitors. Meanwhile, a similar percentage also said that they were increasing their starting salaries, also as a means of wooing skilled workers.
Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps, noted that in order to stay ahead of the game, employers often have to pull out all the stops.
"Competition for highly skilled workers remains intense in many specialties," said Messmer. "Boosting compensation and adding incentives is a useful first step for attracting talent, but it's equally important for businesses to develop the abilities of workers already on staff."
Other ways in which respondents said they try to encourage skilled workers to consider them in their job search included paying relocation expenses for top candidates and make it easier for employees to work remotely.
While some prospective workers may drive a hard bargain, many are ready and willing to take the first job offer they're given. A separate survey performed by CareerBuilder found that nearly half of employees accept a position the initial time that it's extended to them.
Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder, pointed out that many employers have come to expect employees trying to negotiate over salary or benefit offerings, so when they don't it can often come as a surprise.
