The way an employer treats their employees can impact both professional and personal lives, so whether you work to live or live to work, one of the most important factors to consider when job searching is whether the company values its employees and invests in their development. It can be the difference between a dead-end role and the job of a lifetime.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the importance of working with a company that does invest in its team and how to identify companies that don't invest in their employees so you can make an informed decision with your next career move.
Why seek out a company that does invest in its employees
The employer-employee relationship is symbiotic. A company with an ‘employee-centric’ culture can have a positive impact on intellectual stimulation, career progression, and health and wellbeing.
On the other hand, working with companies that don’t invest in their employees risks slowing down your career through a lack of professional development, and having a negative impact on your wellbeing through poor work-life balance or a toxic company culture.
Richard Sinden, director at Robert Half says “In today’s hiring economy, skilled professionals are often presented with multiple job offers to choose between. Whether a company invests in their employees, to me, is the single most important factor jobseekers should evaluate. No matter your career goal - be it work-life balance, professional development, innovation and teamwork, or simply an increased package – the extent to which a company invests in their employees is directly correlated to how easily you can achieve your goals.”
Related: Want to understand what companies are offering this year to attract employees? Check out our Salary Guide
Six ways to identify companies that don’t invest in their employees
One of the most obvious signs that a company doesn't invest in its employees is a lack of training and development opportunities. Training and development is a core part of engaging an employee and supporting their growth. If a company doesn't provide this, it suggests that the business is less interested in helping its employees grow professionally and may signify that there will be limited opportunities for progression in the role.
How evolved a training and development program is also indicative of how much a company is willing to invest in their team. Training and development opportunities can include things like on-the-job training, mentorship programs, leadership development programs, and continuing education courses. Look for opportunities that offer holistic initiatives, such as offering both team-wide and individual learning opportunities, technical and professional skills development, and training from internal and external sources.
Recommended: To understand more about the value of training to your career, explore Robert Half’s career advice
High employee turnover is another sign that a company doesn't invest in its employees. While change is natural, if a company has a high turnover rate it means that employees are joining and leaving at a fast rate. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or a lack of opportunities for growth and development.
When considering a company for employment, it's important to research its turnover rate. While there is no universal benchmark, teams that are made up of members who have been with a company for 3 or more years is a green flag that the company is able to retain staff longer term.
Employee benefits are important because they help employees feel valued and appreciated. They also help employees achieve a better work-life balance, which can lead to increased job satisfaction and better productivity.
Providing employee benefits above and beyond what is stipulated by the government is a voluntary cost that a business will take on at its own expense. This can include things like health insurance, retirement plans, or paid time off. An absence of proactive employee benefits beyond government requirements suggests that the company is unwilling to invest in their employees at the expense of their profit.
Related: 10 employee benefits you’ll wish your company had
Good communication is essential for any successful company, and it's especially important when it comes to investing in employees. If a company doesn't communicate effectively with its employees, it can make it harder for an employee to excel in their role, which can diminish their progress long-term.
Effective communication can include things like regular feedback, performance reviews, and career planning. If a company doesn't provide its employees with regular feedback or performance reviews, it can be difficult for employees to know where they stand and what they need to improve.
Clear expectations are also important for effective communication - if an employee doesn't know what is expected of them, it can be difficult for them to know how to succeed in their role.
If a company doesn't provide its employees with opportunities to grow and advance within the company, it can hold back their professional progress and lead to a lack of motivation and job satisfaction
Opportunities for advancement can include things like promotions, new job assignments, or opportunities to lead projects. Within this is the ability to develop a broader or more sophisticated set of technical skills, tackle larger projects, or manage team members effectively.
Companies that don’t invest in their employees will often inhibit this development which not only makes it harder for the employee to stay engaged with their current role, but can also diminish their ability to take on another more senior role elsewhere.
Work-life balance is an essential aspect of a healthy work environment, and companies that don't support it can create a negative impact on their employees. Companies that invest in their employees respect that personal lives don’t stop between 9 – 5 and embed flexibility into their working arrangements to ensure that employees are able to produce their best work in a way that works for them and their team.
Signs that a company doesn't support work-life balance can include long working hours, lack of flexibility, no paid time off, expectations to be available 24/7, and no support for family leave. When considering a company for employment, it's important to look for signs that the company values work-life balance and supports its employees' personal time.
"Not only do companies that don’t invest in their employees make it harder for those employees to progress in their careers, but it also affects their ability to thrive in life outside of their job."
- Richard Sinden
The interview process is an important opportunity to evaluate a company on how they invest in their employees. Here are six questions to ask in your next interview:
1. What kind of training and development opportunities does the company offer to its employees?
2. Can you tell me about the tenure of the current team? What steps does the company take to reduce turnover?
3. Can you tell me about the performance review process and how it's used to provide feedback and growth opportunities?
4. How does the company encourage and support employees' professional development and career growth?
5. Does the company have any mentorship or coaching programs to help employees reach their full potential?
6. What kind of benefits does the company offer that promote employee well-being, such as health and wellness programs, flexible work arrangements, or paid time off?
Are you unsatisfied in your current role and ready to take the next step in your career? Robert Half is here to help. Search jobs here.
