Would your employees recommend working for your company?

Employee referrals can be one of the most successful recruitment tools for organizations, yet few leaders know how their employees would answer this question. 

If your team members recommend working for your organization, then you've got a powerful recruitment resource. If they wouldn't, what would need to change so they would bring their friends and family to work for you?

Our team consistently hears 3 common reasons that people would not recommend their employer as a good place to work:

1. Lack of effective management You’ve heard that bad managers are the number one reason people leave their jobs. Bad managers also top the list of reasons employees do not recommend working for their company. Our team has heard over and over from people who say they put up with a bad manager for one reason or another, but they tell others to steer clear.
   

2. Lack of trust  Employees want to believe in their company and its leaders. They want to know that their organization is stable and want to understand what is happening when the company makes changes or hits a glitch. Inconsistent (or non-existent!) communication fuels confusion and chaos, and employees tell others that company leadership can't be trusted.
   

3. They don’t see a career path for themselves (or others) Our team has worked with multiple organizations where employee engagement rates were high and team members were happy in their current roles, but employees wouldn't recommend working for the company because there was not a clear career path. At each of these companies, there were many roles that team members could aspire to and grow into, but information on potential roles was highly limited. 

“I love my current job and believe in the organization, but I wouldn't tell others to work here. There's no transparency about how you can move up in the organization.”

We also hear 3 consistent reasons that employees do recommend working for their companies:

1. They are treated with respect

   Employees speak highly of their companies when they are treated with respect. Leaders know their names. Managers ask about their family and get excited about their kid’s T-ball win or the spelling bee championship. They are asked for their opinion regarding changes related to their job, and their ideas are genuinely considered. They feel seen, heard, and valued, and they continually tell their family and friends that their company is a great place to work.
   

2. They are recognized for their contributions to the organization’s success

   Most employees are interested in doing a good job for their company, and it goes a long way when they are recognized for staying late to meet a deadline or identifying a production problem before it affects the delivery date. Formal recognition programs can be beneficial, but most people are happy with a simple thank you. When recognized for a job well done, team members feel appreciated and tell others they should think about coming to their company.
   

3. Someone showed up for them

   We’ve heard many versions of this. A grandmother died right after someone started working at the company, and leave was approved even though they hadn't completed the probationary period. A parent needed to be cared for after surgery, and a manager stepped in with a flexible work solution. Each situation is different, but the message is the same. Someone cared enough about these employees to identify a solution for the situations they faced. Now these folks tell anyone who will listen how much their employer cares about the people who work there.

Do your employees recommend working for your company? If your employees are referring others to work for you, congratulations on creating a strong company culture that fully engages your team. If you aren’t receiving those referrals, reach out to learn how our team can help you turn your existing team members into a strong referral resource.

Contact Audrey George Consulting