Look after your employees and they’ll look after you

Thanks to the disastrous cocktail of Brexit and COVID-19, it's been a tough few months for the UK.

Look after your employees and they'll look after you

Thanks to the disastrous cocktail of Brexit and COVID-19, it’s been a tough few months for the UK. Poverty levels are rising, and the famous three-word phrase ‘Get Brexit Done’ is being replaced by the more sinister ‘Supply Chain Issues’ as labour and food shortages continue to plague the country.

Despite this, Pimlico Plumbers has continued to defy the doomsayers. Our determination to work alongside the virus has helped us turnover almost £50 million. We’ve also seen customer callouts soar by a fifth this year to 120,000, and as a result, we’ve been busy recruiting 50 skilled engineers to meet the demand. This week alone we’ve added eight engineers to the lineup ( it’s only Tuesday) and with the number of interviews scheduled, it’s likely number will increase by week’s end. 

With the labour shortage crisis worsening, employers need to try every trick in the book to find and keep the workers they need to keep up with demand. There’s a wealth of talent out there and high vacancies mean fierce competition. So as an employer you need to stand out!

Make your office the place to be

Providing the best workplace perks will retain and attract the best talent. It’s never been more important to reward employees for their hard work. The pandemic has brought workplace benefits into the limelight, and prospective employees are increasingly looking at benefits packages when making employment decisions. Some companies are introducing saving initiatives, health insurance and bonuses to entice new recruits. For example Hawksmoor restaurants are offering £2,000 bonuses to staff who successfully recommend a friend.

At Pimlico, there is a free state-of-the-art gym, weekly exercise classes, a subsidised canteen, and a huge Christmas and summer parties every year, just to top things off. Our employees enjoy coming to work and our success over the past year is proof that it’s paying off.

Create a safe workspace

Covid is here to stay. The businesses which do well going forward are going to be the ones that look after their workforce. Pimlico’s ‘no jab no job’ policy has been controversial. But that’s a price I’m willing to pay to guarantee my employees and customers feel safe. I’m not saying you have to follow suit, and of course most businesses have their own policies in place but think ‘how can we go the extra mile?’. What will attract those more vulnerable prospective employees to choose you over your competitors? Some of our best employees are beyond retirement age and they certainly feel reassured coming into work knowing that they’re safe!

Offer competitive rates

I know, increasing employee wages might seem like the last thing you need, particularly if your business is struggling. However, I also know that what you put in, you get out. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

Upping wages can boost productivity and attract the best talent. This in turn can lead to happy customers who are more likely to use your services again in the future. If you’re struggling to find workers, this might well be your best bet.

Self-employed plumbers’ incomes have risen to an average of £972 weekly but you can treble that by joining Pimlico. While reportedly the incomes of self-employed plumbers have jumped by 5.7%, more than £200, in recent months our engineers consistently earn much more. Pimlico offers wages that are second to none, and our recruitment ads offering £150,000/year have recently been picked up by media outlets around the country.

The result? Applications, applications, and more applications. Our recruitment team has been working around the clock dealing with the influx of young talent, desperate to whack on their own Pimlico shirt and get to work.

Finding new recruits might seem hard at the moment, especially if your business is struggling and budgets are tight. But you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to come up with the answers. Think about what attracts staff to work in your organisation and sector, assess your competitors’ offering and adapt your own to make sure you stand out.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charlie Mullins
Charlie Mullins
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