Important Employer Values For Your Organisation To Live And Breathe

The most recent Cast UK webinar highlighted the importance of living and breathing employer values within a company, as well as the ones that resonate the most with candidates.

Want to know why living and breathing your employer values matters? We’ve answered that question below, and highlighted some of the areas you should be focusing on.

Why are employer values so important?

When going through the recruitment process, it’s no longer just the candidate who needs to impress. Employers have to show why they’re the best company to work for – and this starts with having values that really make a difference to an individual’s working life.

Businesses are now spending a significant amount of time devising values that not only mirror their aspirations, but also appeal to the candidates they think would be the perfect culture add. This way, they can reduce issues when hiring. But remember, these values should be genuine. It’s not just a case of putting them on your website on social media; your organisation needs to live and breathe them.

Now you know why they’re important, it’s time to look at which values matter the most to prospective employees.

Diversity and inclusion

People want to be able to bring their authentic selves to work, so holding values around diversity and inclusion (D&I) is key. According to research from Glassdoor, 76% of those in a job, or seeking one, value a diverse workforce.

Therefore, D&I is crucial – and having a dedicated strategy demonstrates to potential employees that this is reflected in the workplace. It reassures them that they’ll be treated fairly and respectfully, and so will their colleagues.

Sustainability

As climate change awareness continues to grow and individuals start to forge their own views, they look for these to be reflected in their workplace. This makes a real difference to them, as they can do their jobs with the peace of mind that they’re working for a company that really cares about the environment.

Millennials are one of the key demographics looking for sustainable employer values within an organisation. A 2019 survey conducted by Totaljobs revealed that 50% of people aged 23-38 would consider quitting their current job to work somewhere that’s more environmentally minded.

Employee wellbeing

On a similar note, millennials are much more self aware when it comes to their own wellbeing – though it should be noted that it’s becoming more prominent amongst other age groups, too.

An employer who looks after employee welfare is attractive to all candidates, as it reassures them that they’ll be supported and considered throughout their time with the organisation. Therefore, companies should have such initiatives in place, like flexible benefits that meet people’s needs. Indeed staff wellbeing is something we’re working on ourselves here at Team Orange – with two of our members are currently being trained as Mental Health First Aiders.

Listening to employees

Supporting employee wellbeing coincides with ensuring team members are listened to and understood. This is really important for staff; it gives them the opportunity to get their thoughts and opinions across, gain confidence, and grow within their career.

As a result, you’ll build a culture where people can contribute, which will entice them to work for your company and help to retain them for the long term.

Are you ready to live and breathe your employer values?

By developing core values that resonate with your organisation’s target candidates, your business can attract the best talent out there.

For further advice, our team has collated a handy guide on 7 Ways To Win The War For Talent. It provides key insights into how to boost your recruitment processes and stay ahead of the competition.