The plight
In a country that's reporting record numbers of unemployment to date, why is it still the cry of many business owners in The Bahamas that "good employees are hard to find?" In my work as a business services and human resource consultant, I hear business leaders lament about this all the time. In fact, aside from creating the structure needed for their employees and business to function effectively, their chief complaint is about the staff and issues related to performance and teamwork. Today's employers usually say:
o Employees do not want to work but they want to get paid.
o Employees do not take care of company property, are not productive and focus on their own needs and not those of the company.
o Employees are too difficult to work with; there is too much conflict and gossip.
o Employees seem to be afraid or reluctant to take initiative or make decisions.
o Employees do not understand the value of the customer.
Why is there an apparent disconnect between employers that are hiring and the current unemployment rate? Is it that the unemployed people are not the best in the pool? It is a fact that cutbacks and downsizing make the perfect time to release the problematic, non-contributing employees. However, good employees are also laid off because while it is about talent, it is also a numbers game. Companies just can't afford to keep everyone. That means that there are very talented unemployed people around. This leads to the next reason for the apparent employment gap.
The pool
I've often told applicants this truth: Many advertised positions already have a person in mind for the position and many positions are not advertised at all. People are recruited based on recommendations and referrals from trusted colleagues in their network. Going this route cuts time and cost for the hiring manager because he or she will only see those who have really started out on the short list. There are advantages and disadvantages to this approach and while time and money are saved in the recruitment process, the pool is limited to the network of the people being asked if they know someone that could fit the role. Additionally, employers use outdated recruitment strategies and have limited perspectives of who good employees are.
The pay
Another reason why good employees are not being hired is the money factor. While money is not a motivating factor for many, it is still a determining factor in who you attract. Often, I'd talk with business owners who want highly skilled, committed employees but are not prepared to pay them well. Of course, someone that needs to work may accept that initially, but over time they will move on to the company that is willing to pay more. As a result, only lower skilled employees will work for lower pay and even they want more money after a while. Employers, especially small businesses, should look carefully at the volume of work that needs to be done and the competencies and characteristics required for the role. It may be in their best interests to hire fewer yet more skilled employees than having too many employees that are being paid less. A more skillful employee will usually get more work done and achieve company goals.
The brand
In order to be competitive as an employer, I would suggest to take a serious look at your employer brand. What is the noise in the market about you as an employer? Do you have high turnover? Do you pay fairly? Do you make people work overtime and not pay them for it? Do your managers lead by fear and intimidation? Are people clear about their work, their role and their contribution to the organization? Do you operate with fairness, integrity, transparency and honesty? Are you interested in the growth and advancement of your employees? Your answers will determine if good employees want to choose you as an employer. Yes, that's right. Employees also choose employers. And sometimes the employer comes up wanting. In order to find good employees, one must be a good employer.
In these times of economic challenge, everyone is looking to get value for their investment. Consumers want more, employees want more and employers need more in order to meet the demands of a competitive environment. Finding and keeping top talent is a critical component of that matrix. Are good employees hard to find? Not at all. It depends on where you look, what you're looking for and whether or not you are the kind of employer they want to work for.
o Simmone L. Bowe, MSc. is a business services and human resource consultant, speaker, author and mentor who focuses on helping business leaders develop high performing organizations by connecting vision and goals with strategic organizational performance. For comments and queries, email horizonsdevelopment@yahoo.com.
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