The war on talent – has it returned?
- Take advantage of the tier one talent out there. As the economy turns around, top performers who feel they were not treated well by their employer will begin looking for new opportunities. For more on this read our blog post The most serious threat to employers in this recession may be its end.
- The Boomer generation is now delaying retirement, which presents a great opportunity for employers. Now is the time to take advantage of the knowledge Boomers have, and what they can teach their colleagues. This is especially true for Generation Y employees, who will be leading your organization in the future.
Recognizing top performers
- Recognizing top performers has to be two-fold: a timely, sincere thank you combined with a tangible reward that has intrinsic value. At Ceridian, managers are given a rewards toolkit so they can consistently reward and recognize their team.
- Show employees their contributions are valued by giving your top performers the ability to take on new opportunities in the company. This is a form of recognition that ConAgra Foods lives by.
- It’s important to identify your top employers and recognize them publically. At Umbra, a company that designs and manufactures home products, top performers are awarded the ‘Above & Beyond’ award, where recipients are publically acknowledged. The recognition is shared globally, which drives momentum and other employees to strive for the ‘Above & Beyond’ award. For more on engaging top performers read A wake up call.
Capitalizing on social media
- Social media is becoming a powerful tool for engaging employees. For example, at Ceridian, the president has a blog called “Speak Up” that allows and encourages two-way communication.
- Recruitment as we know it is changing. Social networks like LinkedIn are great places to find talented people. Recently, a major retailer was recruiting for 18 new positions. Sixteen of those positions were filled by finding talent through LinkedIn. For more tips on recruiting trends and innovations read Looking ahead – Recruiting Strategies in 2010.
