Benefits That Draw IT Professionals to Organizations
Salary is important, but it’s not the only thing that attracts potential employees. One of the biggest disconnects between IT professionals and their potential employers is the ability to work remotely. A whopping 73 percent of technologists said that remote work was a benefit that they found important, but only 49 percent said that they currently had that flexibility from their employer.
“Despite studies showing that remote work opportunities can translate into happier, more productive employees, it seems that a subset of employers are unwilling to offer more offsite flexibility due to the difficulties associated with communication, management and fostering an innovative workspace,” the report notes.
“Clearly, there is a disparity between what technologists want and what employers are willing to offer.”
Other emerging benefits also rank high among IT professionals. College tuition reimbursement (48 percent), wellness programs (45 percent) and family leave (45 percent) all ranked as high priorities. In each of these categories, the interest among technologists has increased in the last year.
"To entice top talent, in addition to compensation, a focus on 'emerging' benefits and remote work options will position tech companies' roles at the top of the stack for in-demand experts," says Art Zeile, CEO of Dice parent company DHI Group. Delivering on that work/life balance can be the key to attracting candidates.
How to Keep Your Business’s IT Department Motivated
Keeping IT professionals is just as important as hiring them in the first place. Constantly training new employees can be a drag not only on productivity, but also on operational efficiency. One of the best ways to keep that talent, the report found, was to give employees opportunities to stretch their limits.
“Over a quarter of technologists seek opportunities to be more creative in their jobs,” says Michelle Marian, chief marketing officer of DHI Group. “Employers can meet this need by offering special projects and empowering technologists to approach projects in distinct and creative ways, allowing room for continued innovation and in turn, increased satisfaction for technologists."
This means that organizations that haven’t already started automating some IT tasks should look into it. By using robotic process automation to take the mundane work off of their plate, small businesses can allow technologists to focus on more complex problems that challenge their skills and keep them feeling satisfied at work. Keeping that morale high can be just the trick to retaining employees who might get more lucrative offers.
