Keeping Talent

Sharon McKnight SPHR

I read an article on the New York Times' website called -- Google Grows, and Works to Retain Nimble Minds. It is about how Google focuses on retaining employees. (Especially those that are attracted to working at Facebook.) It made me think about what other companies might be doing to retain their top talent.

Please take a few moments to share your secrets to retaining top talent.

Sharon

PS: If you're interest, you can find the article at: [URL="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/technology/29google.html?_r=1&hpw"]http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/technology/29google.html?_r=1&hpw [/URL]

Jessica Ayer

Interesting article, Sharon.

I ran across an article this morning that discussed different ways to keep talent. It discussed several "atypical" benefits offerings that some organizations use to retain talent, including:

1. sabbaticals;
2. childcare that goes above and beyond the usual offerings;
3. more "ambitious" health and wellness programs;
4. flex work arrangements; and
5. other offerings that make employees' lives easier.

Some of the offerings were pretty interesting. (If you would like to see the full article click [URL="http://www.inc.com/guides/2011/01/5-atypical-employee-benefit-offerings-of-the-2010-top-small-company-workplaces.html"]here[/URL].)

Do any of your organizations offer "atypical" benefits? If so, what are they, and do you think they help your organization retain talent? Or, has your organization thought about offering some type of atypical benefit?