Q&A: Retaining Top Talent with a Culture of Wellbeing

In today’s job market, employees hold all the cards. To attract and retain top talent, employers must offer more than just competitive pay. We sat down with Julie Fulton, Director of Wellbeing and Population Health Management, to discuss how having a comprehensive wellbeing program can set your organization apart.

Here are the highlights of our Q&A session:

1. Today, we want to focus on what employers can do to retain their talented and valuable people as well as attract talent in a job market that is now essentially borderless, regionless and unlike any job market employers have ever faced. The numbers are pretty staggering. A survey by Microsoft reveals that 41% of employees are considering quitting their job. If you’re an employer, what should be your first step in assessing if you can remain competitive in the changing job market?

A big part of what our team does is hone in on employees through a cultural assessment. There are a variety of ways we can do that—whether it be a direct-to-employee survey, observing the work environment or examining leadership’s attitudes toward employees. We apply a holistic approach to keep a pulse on what's happening in the organization and how employees are feeling so that we can address any issues. The solution may be something as simple as a weekly check-in or face time with a manager. Conducting regular assessments and making employees aware of the results of those assessments is key.

2. Studies show that its more than just pay that keeps employees at their job. If someone is super talented, another company will always pay more, so what else keeps employees happy and makes them want to stay?

I think one of the biggest things that we've noticed, especially during the pandemic, is that employees want to be invested in their jobs and want to know that they’re making an impact. That seems to be central to why people are choosing a job or staying at a job. It's also important for people to have a title they can be proud of and feel like they can grow in that position.

3. Studies show that 73% of employers are having difficulty attracting employees. That’s up from 26% last year. Similarly, 61% struggle to retain talent, up from 15% last year. What are trends in benefits or work arrangement offerings that are attracting talent?

Interestingly, the data set is a little bit different when we look at trends in wellbeing and engagement versus strictly population health. What we want to do is bring those two things together. I think that's a more unique approach in the industry because typically I've seen groups that have been very wellbeing or engagement focused and groups that have been strictly focused on population health solutions or programs. I think for those solutions and programs to engage people, we have to have the right culture in place to let people know they’re supported. In terms of trends, it goes back to making everyone feel included and getting back down to the basics of making people feel that their opinions and ideas are respected.

4. One thing that studies have shown about remote work is that leaders are out of touch with employees and need a bit of a wakeup call. What can leaders do to better connect with their people?

Find a way to connect regularly with employees. I make it a point to have one-on-one meetings with my employees if not weekly then at least bi-monthly or monthly. Even if it's 10 minutes for us to connect and let the employee vent on something that's been happening, I think that's extremely valuable.

For more Q&A with Julie on this topic, listen to the full podcast, "Want to Retain Top Talent? Create a Culture of Wellbeing!”

Want to hear more from the CBIZ Employee Benefits team on a variety of topics? Subscribe to the BIZTips Employee Benefits podcast on Apple Podcast for monthly episodes.

Listen on Apple Podcast // Listen in your browser

Home / Insights / Articles / Article Details

Printable Version

Here are the highlights of our Q&A session:

1. Today, we want to focus on what employers can do to retain their talented and valuable people as well as attract talent in a job market that is now essentially borderless, regionless and unlike any job market employers have ever faced. The numbers are pretty staggering. A survey by Microsoft reveals that 41% of employees are considering quitting their job. If you’re an employer, what should be your first step in assessing if you can remain competitive in the changing job market?

2. Studies show that its more than just pay that keeps employees at their job. If someone is super talented, another company will always pay more, so what else keeps employees happy and makes them want to stay?

3. Studies show that 73% of employers are having difficulty attracting employees. That’s up from 26% last year. Similarly, 61% struggle to retain talent, up from 15% last year. What are trends in benefits or work arrangement offerings that are attracting talent?

4. One thing that studies have shown about remote work is that leaders are out of touch with employees and need a bit of a wakeup call. What can leaders do to better connect with their people?

For more Q&A with Julie on this topic, listen to the full podcast, "Want to Retain Top Talent? Create a Culture of Wellbeing!”

Want to hear more from the CBIZ Employee Benefits team on a variety of topics? Subscribe to the BIZTips Employee Benefits podcast on Apple Podcast for monthly episodes.

Listen on Apple Podcast // Listen in your browser

© Copyright CBIZ, Inc. and CBIZ CPAs P.C. (together, “CBIZ”). All rights reserved. Use of the material contained herein without the express written consent of the firms is prohibited by law. This publication is distributed with the understanding that CBIZ is not rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. The reader is advised to contact a tax professional prior to taking any action based upon this information. CBIZ assumes no liability whatsoever in connection with the use of this information and assumes no obligation to inform the reader of any changes in tax laws or other factors that could affect the information contained herein.

CBIZ is the brand name for CBIZ CPAs P.C. and CBIZ Advisors, LLC (together), a national professional services company providing tax, financial advisory and consulting services to individuals, tax-exempt organizations and a wide range of growth-oriented companies. CBIZ Advisors, LLC is a fully owned subsidiary of CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE: CBZ). CBIZ CPAs P.C. is an independent CPA firm that provides audit, review and attest services, and works closely with CBIZ, a business consulting, tax and financial services provider. CBIZ and CBIZ CPAs P.C. are members of Kreston Global, a global network of independent accounting firms. This publication is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws and treaties. Material contained in this publication is informational and promotional in nature and not intended to be specific financial, tax or consulting advice. Readers are advised to seek professional consultation regarding circumstances affecting their organization.

Q&A: Retaining Top Talent with a Culture of Wellbeing

Here are the highlights of our Q&A session:

2. Studies show that its more than just pay that keeps employees at their job. If someone is super talented, another company will always pay more, so what else keeps employees happy and makes them want to stay?

3. Studies show that 73% of employers are having difficulty attracting employees. That’s up from 26% last year. Similarly, 61% struggle to retain talent, up from 15% last year. What are trends in benefits or work arrangement offerings that are attracting talent?

4. One thing that studies have shown about remote work is that leaders are out of touch with employees and need a bit of a wakeup call. What can leaders do to better connect with their people?

Here are the highlights of our Q&A session:

2. Studies show that its more than just pay that keeps employees at their job. If someone is super talented, another company will always pay more, so what else keeps employees happy and makes them want to stay?

3. Studies show that 73% of employers are having difficulty attracting employees. That’s up from 26% last year. Similarly, 61% struggle to retain talent, up from 15% last year. What are trends in benefits or work arrangement offerings that are attracting talent?

4. One thing that studies have shown about remote work is that leaders are out of touch with employees and need a bit of a wakeup call. What can leaders do to better connect with their people?

Insights in Your Inbox