How can I Build My Employer Branding for 2016?

Since it is the New Year, it is a good time for employers to plan for 2016 CSR or R&R activities. These activities do not have to occur every month – a quarterly or bi-annually, or even yearly activity can leave a tangible impact on your employees.

According to CareerBuilder Singapore’s Employer of Choice survey, one of the key factors influencing a jobseeker’s decision to join a company is how active it is when it comes to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.

Since it is the New Year, it is a good time for employers to plan for 2016 CSR or R&R activities. These activities do not have to occur every month – a quarterly or bi-annually, or even yearly activity can leave a tangible impact on your employees. This would result in stronger internal employer branding, which is vital to your employees’ commitment to the organisation.

Plan for a Relaxing Activity

You know what they say – all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Hectic back-to-back projects drain your employees considerably and can in turn affect overall morale. It is thus important to reward your staff with relaxing activities at the end of every project cycle or peak period. Even though such activities may seem to only serve the sole purpose of leisure on the surface, it actually doubles up as a great bonding tool among co-workers.

While some employers would choose to take the entire company on an overseas break, others may choose to plan an off-site retreat without leaving the country. Both share similar benefits – being in a new environment means less distractions for staff as they would not feel the same pressure of answering work-related calls or emails. The new surroundings also encourage creativity, bringing about an open-minded attitude towards new ideas and change. Furthermore, bonds are more easily formed when the teams are having fun.

At the end of a teambuilding retreat, the organisation stands to gain as employees feel energised, and will be able to take on the responsibilities of a new project cycle with more enthusiasm.

Encourage Contribution to Society

R&R activities can also benefit the society, through CSR efforts. Companies can look to their employees for inspiration when looking for causes to support or even when planning these CSR initiatives. The activity should aim to bond employees from all departments, and promote the company’s culture.

Apart from monetary donations, staff can also volunteer their services. When volunteering is done together as a company, it drives up goodwill between employers, thus improving relationships. It also improves the company’s external employer branding – companies with good branding are associated with quality, reliability and trustworthiness.

Fortunately or unfortunately, people of today’s information age can access information with efficiency and ease. This means that a potential candidate would also be aware of how an organisation treats its employees with a single mouse click, whether its products are environmentally-friendly and if it supports the community in which it operates. The activities mentioned here would reap both tangible and intangible benefits – not just for your employees, but for the organisation as a whole.

Furthermore, by creating an environment that promotes a positive impact on the environment and society, companies are finding that not only are they able to keep their most talented and highly skilled people, they are fulfilling society’s growing expectations of their business.