As the “War for Talent” intensifies, now more than ever, it is critical that employers continue to look for new and unique ways to set themselves apart as an employer of choice for the best and the brightest. While a ping-pong table in the break room at work might sound fun on the surface, when it comes down to making a decision about where to work, the reality is, employees are looking for something with a bit more substance.

With the war for talent in full-effect, it’s important to look more deeply into how compensation factors play in an organization’s ability to attract, engage, and retain top talent. Support your people strategy and stay competitive by keeping up with compensation trends.

Research has highlighted three key non-performance factors that can distort the performance ratings managers give to their employees.¹ While rating subordinates, managers consider the negative consequences that can occur when providing accurate ratings, the organizational norms surrounding how they are supposed to rate, and the potential of fulfilling self-interests. These three factors add to the complexity of how managers are motivated to rate, and they lend support to the idea that managers are not always motivated to rate their subordinates accurately.

As for most departments within an organization, measuring effectiveness is an essential part of continuous improvement. Sales departments analyze previous deals to determine their average buy-cycle and use that information to improve their performance, finance departments measure their accounts payable and accounts receivable timelines and use that information to improve cash flow, and so on. However, oftentimes HR metrics are misused. When HR metrics are simply calculated and reported on, the true value of the metrics is lost.

Despite the chilly temperatures outside, summer is just around the corner. To help employers prepare for the summer months ahead, we asked organizations to share any special “summer hours” benefits that they offer to their employees.

Voluntary benefits can be a great addition to add to your benefits package for employees, many at no cost to the employer. Voluntary benefits give employers the ability to balance employee needs with bottom line costs, spotlight the value of your benefits package, and increase employee engagement while protecting employees from life’s unforeseen circumstances.

When it comes to hiring, looking at the competencies of a candidate can support your talent management strategies. Looking at job-related competencies helps with selection, promotion, training and development, performance management, career planning, and succession planning. 

New managers may have a hard time adjusting if they are equipped with the proper tools, tips, and tricks that enable them to reach success. Getting off on the right foot for new managers often sets the tone for the they are managing for the foreseeable future.

In the 2017 ERC/Crain’s Cleveland Workplace Practices Survey, the majority of respondents noted the hiring and retention of talent is their biggest organizational challenge, and that employees were the greatest strength of their company.

Leadership development and professional development are not new concepts, yet their evolvement has been less than progressive. Many organizations focus on the horizontal development of leaders by investing in soft skills and technical skills training with a focus on broadening tools and competencies used. Horizontal development is a key part of leadership development and organizational success.