Passionate business owners know they have a lot to offer employees but how do they communicate that to job hunters and existing staff? There are some initiatives businesses can employ to attract and retain the right people.

National President of the Australian Human Resources Institute, Peter Wilson, offers some strategies to make your business stand out.

Workplace flexibility

Younger workers will put in ‘performance hours’ rather than ‘office hours’ for employers who are prepared to be flexible. Also, parents favour workplaces that allow them to work at home in the evening in return for leaving early to do the school run.

Connectivity

Offer staff the technology and ability to work from home.

Technology

There are a number of ways technology can enhance your business appeal. Is your website effective and visually engaging? Are potential candidates able to easily navigate around the site to discover the information they need? Social media, such as a business blog, can be used to communicate to your employees. “But you have to be open to this being a two-way street, to hear things that might be uncomfortable and then act on them,” advises Wilson.

Good corporate citizen

Communicate your community involvement and environmental awareness. Job seekers want to see that their employer is trying to reduce its environmental impact and is involved in the local community.

Use experience

Offer older workers the opportunity to mentor younger staff. This enables skills to be passed on, is generally welcomed by young people looking for guidance and helps keep existing staff engaged. With an ageing population, businesses will benefit from retaining the skills and experience of older workers and, in return, can offer them job sharing and a shorter working week.

Many businesses are already engaged in their local community or using technology to work more flexibly. Communicating that to prospective employees is one way to stand out in the crowd and attract and retain talented staff.