Comments on: Study Shows Perks, Not Pay is Key to Attracting Talented Workers

By: D

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:17:19 +0000

I agree with both Brian and not so much with Jake I see it as Free Benefits .. working at a call center they use all kinds of tactics to get more work with less pay .. as for Jake I do understand from your point of view as a business owner but as someone from the other side that has never missed a day of work for almost ten years, being someone that is work detailed and self sufficient I have the discipline to work at home and get the job done, I think more so .. as people like to socialize and interrupt one’s work .. as I have an excellent work ethic that does not reflect how I feel about the work itself .. I know that I’m there to get the job done regardless .. but come to the conclusion of Mr_Simple (March 7th, 2008 8:05am)

It’s a balance and one that is difficult especially in these times, having the job that fulfills and pays the bills comfortable

By: Salary or Perks—What’s More Important? [Reader Poll] » Lifehacker, tips and downloads for getting things done

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:16:28 +0000

[...] Is salary the biggest factor for you when you’re making career moves? Debate in the comments. Competing for Talent: A Survey of Talent Trends in Technology and Telecommunications [Deloitte LLP via Web Worker Daily] [...]

By: J.J. Merrick

J.J. Merrick — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:36:47 +0000

I’ve turned down 3 job offers in the last 2 months making $30k more a year then what I am making now. I can’t leave my current job because the perk of getting to work from home is too much. The other is that they don’t have an office at all so I don’t have to justify my telecommuting ever… which allows me to do my work and do whatever I want. Just yesterday my 2 y.o had a medical emergency that required 911 and the fact that I was home in my office and my wife could come get me was worth any amount of money.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:04:25 +0000

I agree, flexible work arrangements are just as valuable as compensation, if not more so. All companies, large and small, new and established, need to realize that the work world has changed in the last 40 years. Technology makes getting the work done less “location dependent”.

As younger generations backfill for retiring boomers, we expect the workplace to become more flexible and not necessarily mean an office or a desk in a corporate location.

Gen Y and the Millennial expect flexible work arrangements. If they don’t get them, they will move on to companies that will provide these capabilities. So companies have a choice: loosen up the policies written in the 1970’s or risk losing workers to competitors who will.

Here’s another big news flash for corporate America: The “Command and Control” style of management is gone. If you think you can force workers into a huge cube farm to view your empire in one place, you may not like what you see. If you’re going to dictate to the younger workforce of today you’re going to get the same reaction as you did from your kids: defiance. Younger workers will not tolerate the dictorial style of older Boomers. Instead, they’ll head for the doors. Turnover and training are expensive. Don’t let outdated policies and management styles ruin your company.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:31:02 +0000

I guess it depends on the industry, what is common behavior in that industry, the mind set of that sector and of course the individuals. If you hire your employees carefully and get those motivated people who like what they do, in the hi-tech industry you can count on these principles to work almost automatically. Off course you have to make sure the employees know you are trying to be flexible for their sake (inside PR) and have their appreciation on this. In addition, you have to verify in every case and make sure these conditions are not taken for granted – have some measurement and control on the issue. If you find the system doesn’t work for you or that people start to take advantage of it in a bad way you can always revoke the privileges for a period of time to remind the employees how it is without them.
In general when employees are treated well and they are happy with what they do, they will feel committed and return the same to the company.
I have worked from home on some occasions when I didn’t have to but I did it anyway because I liked the job I held and I was measured by deadlines which I wanted to meet on time.
In general when employees are treated well and they are happy with what they do, they will feel commited and return the same to the company.
I have worked from home on some occasions when I didn’t have to but I did it anyway because I liked the job I held and I was measured by deadlines which I wanted to meet (it is not that I would be fired if I didin’t).

By: wil

wil — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:24:49 +0000

I work when I want, I get projects done and I do it in a timely manner. My boss has no problem with that because I put out a higher level of work than the other workers at the company.

Hooray for working at home!

By: Salary or Perks—What’s More Important? [Reader Poll] · TechBlogger

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:02:44 +0000

By: Woody

Woody — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:17:24 +0000

I’ve been saying this for years. When I inverviewed at places, my first note to them was that I don’t come in until I’m ready to work, and leave when I’m out of focus. Most days that means I come in at 10am and leave at 7 or 8pm. And if I put in extra long days (the last 4 I’ve put in 12 hour days), I may take some off. (Like today.)

@Jeff: If you think people that come in at 7 don’t get anything done until people show up at 9, you must be a manager. I get more work done from 6pm to 10pm than I do the rest of the day. Why? Because there are no meetings, no co-workers chatting me up, no phone calls… Just me at my desk getting work done.

By: Mr_Simple

Mr_Simple — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:05:51 +0000

It’s all about the money, especially with inflation looming.

Do you realize the value of a dollar today is only .50 of what it was 10 years ago?

At that rate a gallon of milk is going to cost $10 in 5 years.

Go ahead and work for the fun of it, you’ll be in the poor house soon.

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:58:25 +0000

The person who mentioned two kinds of employee had it right. If your people are clock-punchers, don’t let them work from home. And, by the way, look for another company, because you’re managing clock-punchers, and your organization will never excel. (I assume that if you could fire them you would have done so by now.) Managers of good workers should let them work from home. I’ve been able to do it for nearly a decade now, surviving several managers, and it’s because I’m one of those people who, for better or for worse, derives much of his self-worth from the work he does.