Attracting and retaining good employees takes more than money, according to panelists at Robert Half International Inc.'s Executive Roundtable: Hiring and Compensation Issues in IT and Finance.
The roundtable, which was held Sept. 16 at and co-sponsored by Case Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, covered topics such as incentives, skills and overall compensation plans.
The consensus among the panelists? Helping employees balance work/life issues and enabling them to customize how they work -- be it incorporating flex-time or getting on the fast-track in terms of career advancement -- goes much further than monetary rewards.
Another popular tactic among the panelists' companies: Relying on employee referrals to fill open positions. "By referring family or friends, employees can build teams they like to work with," says Jo Ann Boylan, chief technology officer at Cleveland-based Ohio Savings Bank. Boylan, who started her career at Marathon Oil Co., also suggests sending hand-written notes to employees' homes when they've done a great job. "It's the small things that get forgotten, but are extremely powerful," she adds.
Robert Half International is a Menlo Park, Calif.-based specialized staffing firm that places accounting, finance and information technology professionals via its seven divisions, including Accountemps, OfficeTeam, Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group.
