I keep seeing the phrase, “Nobody wants to work” as a general lament from companies that can not seem to hire or keep workers. I laugh every time because I know better. People love to work. The key is to offer the things that humans desire from their labor. If you do that, you will have more people than you know that to do with. I have been working since fourteen and have worked in a variety of jobs in retail, sales, media and education. Some have been paid, some volunteer. That’s right, some work is so rewarding, I will do it for free.
Here is a list of benefits that I have seen that will entice and keep employees.
Show me the Money: Pay the workers.
Financial compensation is the most obvious motivation for work. It can take several forms, hourly wage, salary, profit sharing, health and life insurance, 401K savings plans and college tuition. Each of these payment forms fulfills a different need. People need money for current living expenses, they need assurance against sickness and death, money for future retirement, money to pay for training or college and money as a reward for their contribution to the company. Having profit-sharing for all workers directly ties the performance of the worker not only individually, but as a team. Everyone who participated got a piece of the prize. If employers miss this primary motivation, especially in times of inflation, then they are fooling themselves about what workers need to exist in the world.
Show me the Perks: Provide for your employees’ needs.
Everyone says that money isn’t everything and to some extent that is true. If a company is short on cash, they may be able to provide for physical needs in other ways. Retail sales entices workers with substantial discounts and freebies. Colleges often have work-study and fellowship programs. As a driver, my husband has access to company vehicles and price-controlled fuel. So while he has to commute several miles every day, he doesn’t have to empty out our bank account to do it. Other perks could include childcare, housing and transportation.
Show me the People: Create a good work environment.
One of my favorite jobs was selling wood ceilings. Why? I was working with a bunch of friends from college. The atmosphere was collaborative, safe and trust-based. We had weekly meals together and everyone was looking out for each other. Since profit-sharing was company-wide, everyone was motivated to work together rather than compete. Smart employers set-up mentoring programs and spaces for people to connect relationally. Don’t underestimate the power of fun!
I have also worked in bad environments where it paid to alienate and sabotage each other. That kind of hostile and toxic work environment probably sheds employees the fastest. It’s also important to hire and keep managers that no only produce results, but also properly care for their workers, to do that, you need a strong policies that protect your best assets from abuse.
Show me the Growth: Don’t stagnate.
Most people do not want to work in a dead-end job. They desire the opportunity to grow in knowledge, opportunity and expression. People with experience are valuable and to let them linger, under-utilized is a waste. Be sure to include women, minorities and people with different abilities in these experiences; diversity comes from opportunities. There should aways be chances for workers to learn, achieve and create.
This dedication to growth applies to the company-level as well. The world is always changing, and companies may already have some resources to address those needs in-house. A company or organization’s growth is limited to its scope. Leveraging the learning and insights of your workers can help you stay fresh and relevant.
Show me the Legacy: Do something worthy.
Everyone wants to have an occupation that they are proud of. The other day, we drove by a new building and my husband pointed out the parts that he carried on his flatbed truck. It is work that he can see and feel good about. I teach, and sometimes I see a former student announce accomplishments. It feels good to know that I helped to contribute to that. The reason that celebrities and wealthy people are always contributing to charities is because they want to have a legacy that is larger than a bag of money. Regular people want that too. They want something that they can show their friends and families and feel proud of. Nobody wants to have a wasted life.
So, if you want to find people to work for you, check out the jobs you are offering and see how many boxes it checks from this list. People want to work, and it might even be for you.
