Desperate
for good help?
You're
not alone.
With
the U.S. jobless rate hovering between 5 - 7 %, the lowest in 30 years,
employers are experiencing some of the worst shortages in decades. Competition
for good employees (sometimes any employees) is fierce. Recruiting
costs are gobbling up human resource budgets. Training takes more time
and money. And once they're trained, how do you keep your new employees
happy and productive? Even more important, how do you instill a sense
of company loyalty in a time where many companies suffer 100% annual
turnover - as much as 300% in fast food and other franchised businesses.
What
can you do to stop them from jumping ship and putting that training
investment and experience to work for your competition?
It's a
challenge to be sure, and one that demands immediate attention. A sobering
study recently predicted that marginal employers could be forced to
close their doors in 2003, a direct result of their inability to find
and keep enough people to adequately staff their businesses.
Fortunately,
there are things you can do! Offer more competitive salaries? Sure.
Tempt candidates with hiring bonuses? Maybe. How about flexible schedules,
401k programs, tuition reimbursement? All are good conventional solutions
that companies like yours try every day. 
Where
to Surf
But
desperate times like these call for some under-publicized, under-utilized
solutions.
- · Some
businesses are developing cooperative recruitment collaborations with
non-competing companies, swapping applicants who may be more suited
to one company than the other.
- · Many
franchises are forming alliances with community organizations and
churches. The business owners contribute time and resources toward
helping new immigrants with language skills and training for their
first jobs in America. In exchange they draw from a pool of enthusiastic
new employees.
- · Some
businesses have been happily surprised by the results from working
with social service agencies charged with re-introducing high school
dropouts, former welfare recipients, substance abusers, and people
with criminal records back into the workforce.
As you
might expect, benefits like providing life skill and work training,
and transportation to and from work are important to those new employees.
So is helping ease their clothing expenses (and providing loyalty-building
incentives) with company-supplied uniforms. In fact, a uniform program
is an underutilized benefit that is appreciated by all employees, young
and old, male and female, from every cultural and economic group.
| |
ADVERTISEMENT
|
Now,
More Than Ever, You Should Outfit Your Employees for Work.
That's
right. Re-evaluate your uniforms. If you don't have a uniform program,now
is the time to start one. Not just any uniforms will
do, however. You need to offer uniforms that look good and feel good.
Uniforms that reflect the relaxed corporate-casual attitude of this
exciting new millennium.
According
to a recent article in The Boston Globe, many progressive companies
understand how vital attractive, comfortable uniforms are to attracting
employees in a tight labor market. McDonald's Corporation recently revamped
its uniform program changing from neon colors to earth tones to attract
and retain employees who want a more trendy look.
Ten
Hidden Advantages
Of course
the obvious benefit of a great-looking uniform is just that. It makes
everyone look great-you, your employees and your business. But consider
the 10 hidden advantages that uniforms readily deliver.
1. Great
Uniforms Attract Great Employees In a recent survey of 600,000
small employers, the National Federation of Independent Business found
31% said it was hard to fill job openings with 21% complaining about
labor quality. All things being equal, job seekers are going to sign
up with the company that provides uniforms they like and would actually
enjoy wearing. Uniforms with an "un-uniformy", street-clothes look
and feel. Polo shirts, khakis, and denim are some of the most popular
looks for today's workers.
2. A Cure for Employee Wanderlust When a good employee leaves,
your business suffers. Company-provided uniforms say "my company cares
about me." Even part-time employees get that message. Outfitting them
in good-looking, great-fitting company uniforms proves you not only
believe in them, you also care about their comfort and their self-image.
There is an unspoken sense of confidence, loyalty and self-respect
that helps foster successful long-term employment. It's an investment
that will serve you well when your competitor tries to lure away your
best staffers.
3. Service With a Smile The attitude of professionalism that
comes along with a terrific uniform program is contagious. When everyone
is happy with the way they look, smiles abound. Your customers crave
that kind of friendly, efficient service. And your employees discover
the pleasures of an upbeat workplace.
4. A Real Sense of Teamwork Smart-looking uniforms tell your
employees and your customers "We're all on the same winning team."
In fact, many companies have found that establishing teams within
their business encourages long-term employment. Employees working
cooperatively were more reluctant to take a new job and abandon their
teammates. Using different color uniforms gives each team within the
company its own image and identity, all within the context of a professional
overall look. They're are a boost to morale...and ultimately, profits.
5. An Award-Winning Idea Employee retention programs that are
tailored more to individuals and less to salary scale really work.
Studies show that retention increases with programs that are tied
to performance. Use premium apparel embroidered with your logo (i.e.
casual jackets) and related gifts (i.e. briefcases, totes, etc.) from
your uniform supplier to reward perfect attendance, extra-effort performance
or superb customer service. They're gifts your staff will wear with
pride, on the job and off.
6. Something for Everyone Your workforce is becoming more and
more diverse with multi-cultural employees spanning all age groups.
The days of one-uniform-fits-all won't work anymore. Now you can please
everyone, while still keeping your image consistent. Uniform suppliers
can put your logo on a wide variety of apparel in colors, styles and
sizes that appeal to everyone's individual style.
7. Always Appropriate A little creative self-expression is
good...unless your employee shows up in a rock band's concert T-shirt.
With company-approved uniforms the choice of what to wear to work
is already made. It's a boost to their clothing budget and one less
thing for your employees to worry about in today's hectic world.
8. Bring in Some Extra Cash Earth tones, denim, weathered cotton...the
choices for today's work clothes are endless and the styles are keeping
up with America's fashion trends. Your staff will look so good, your
customers may even want to buy your logo'd hats and shirts for themselves.
Profits go up and your company's name is advertised throughout the
community!
9. Great Ice Breakers Let your uniforms take care of the introductions.
Embroidered first names on your staff's shirts and jackets give employees
a sense of ownership, teamwork and camaraderie, and creates an instant
rapport with your customers.
10. A Look That Says "We Mean Business" Providing personalized
uniforms lets your staff know you care enough to make a long-term
investment in them. It says to employees and your customers "we're
professionals, we're here to stay and so are you."
