Flexibility is key benefit to attract talent

Flexible benefits are the most valued type of benefit for talent, according to research by social media platform LinkedIn.

Flexible benefits-2015

Its Winning talent research, which surveyed 1,001 of British workers in full-time employment, also found that 36% of respondents said flexible-working arrangements would persuade them to take a job with an employer, even if their friends and family did not approve of the organisation.

The study also found:

  • No amount of money could tempt half (50%) of respondents to consider taking a role at an organisation with a poor employer brand.
  • Just under a fifth (17%) of respondents would take a new job with an organisation offering increased job security, greater professional development opportunities, and a higher calibre of internal team, even without the offer of a pay rise.
  • 53% would entirely rule out accepting a job offer from an organisation with a reputation for having poor job security, dysfunctional teams or poor leadership.
  • 34% of respondents would be persuaded to take up a role if the organisation’s internal culture was positive.
  • 28% would be persuaded to take up a role if the organisation had a good industry reputation, over the concerns of friends and family.

Chris Brown, director of LinkedIn Talent Solutions UK, said: “LinkedIn’s Winning talent research shows that a poor employer brand or reputation does not just make it harder to find the best staff, but also impacts [an organisation’s] bottom line.

”In addition to simply attracting better employees, a strong employer brand helps employee retention and engagement, so the true value is even greater than this data suggests.

“Finding the best people remains the number one driver of success for any business. Better communicating the benefits and attractions of their business to potential recruits has to be top of the agenda for recruitment, resourcing and talent professionals.”