Nailing your employee value proposition (EVP) is essential for attracting and retaining the best talent. The hunt for talent in today’s job market is hot right now – meaning that there’s never been a more important time to invest in your people and what you can offer them.
We know that it can be overwhelming to get started with an EVP. That’s why we’ve created this employee value proposition strategy worksheet.
What is this EVP strategy template for?
Whether you’re at the start of your employer value proposition strategy or using this employer branding plan template to refine and improve your current employer brand strategy, this will help guide you.
Throughout this EVP template, all you need is honesty from your team, so you can have a true understanding of areas of improvement.
We hope this helps you form a foundation for a strong employee value proposition.
Download now.
Disclaimer:Â The information in this article is relevant as at 28 July 2021, and has been prepared by Employment Hero Pty Ltd ABN (11 160 047 709) (Employment Hero). The views expressed herein are general information only and are provided in good faith to assist employers and their employees. The Information is based on data supplied by third parties. While such data is believed to be accurate, it has not been independently verified and no warranties are given that it is complete, accurate, up to date or fit for the purpose for which it is required. Employment Hero does not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy in such data and is not liable for any loss or damages arising either directly or indirectly as a result of reliance on, use of or inability to use any information provided in this article.
From recruitment through to retention, productivity through to employee engagement, having an affordable and clearly defined employee value proposition will help set up your organisation for long-term success.
What is an employee value proposition strategy?
Done well, a successful EVP strategy will provide answers to the question – Why work with us?
Having a strong employee value proposition can facilitate strong employer branding that is vital to talent acquisition and retention, giving you that distinct edge over competitors.
With that in mind, how will current and prospective employees know what makes working for your company so desirable if it’s not communicated to them?
You want to build a company that people will love, one that will invest in their teams and stand the test of time. By prioritising your people’s happiness, it sends out a powerful message to employees and customers alike.
Having an EVP strategy in place helps you find those sweet spots that encourage people to stand up and say “WOW!”
Let’s have a quick EVP refresher
Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is the combination of support, benefits package and employee perks that a business offers employees in return for their knowledge and skills.
A strong EVP will help you attract talent whose values and goals align with those of your organisation.
By combining employer branding with engagement, EVPs can create a sense of meaning for current and future employees, making your business a highly desirable place to work.
According to Gartner, effective EVPs can decrease annual employee turnover by just under 70% and increase new hire commitment by nearly 30%.
For those of you who are new to the term EVP and are not entirely sure what they are, we recommend checking out this awesome article here. Our wonderful CPO – Alex Hattingh, will cover what makes for a successful EVP and why they are important to your business.
Tips for creating a successful EVP
To create a great employee value proposition, your EVP statement needs to be clearly defined.
Start by mapping out your EVP on paper, and be sure to tie in nicely with your company’s mission, vision and brand image.
It’s extremely important to continuously rework, redefine and articulate your EVP to new and existing employees. Monitor and listen to what works and what doesn’t, that way you can easily identify what your employees value and appreciate most.
Before we get stuck into creating EVP strategies, here are a couple of hot tips to build a greater employee value proposition:
Clearly define your employee personas
Employee personas can help you understand what your people value and the type of employee experience you should be creating for them.
This is the first step in truly understanding the various personalities, skills, experiences, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes that drive productivity and performance.
With today’s increasingly diverse workforce, every company has more than one type of employee. In fact, your business relies on different backgrounds and perspectives to understand customer profiles and facilitate innovation.
Just like you would a customer, starting by empathising with each employee’s target segment that is key to the EVP development process.
Listen to what your existing employees have to say
Once you have identified and examined the diverse needs within your company, start to engage with them to further your understanding.
You want to hear what employees seek in their workplace and what makes them feel happy, engaged and motivated to perform. These answers can be found in your past, current and prospective employees.
Leverage exit interviews to understand why it is that past employees have chosen to leave your company and what you could do differently in the future.
Use focus groups, 1:1 meetings and surveys for current employees to see what they enjoy about the existing employee experience and ideas for how it can be improved.
Interviews with prospective candidates can also provide a unique insight into what makes your company culture attractive and why that’s important.
Affordable employee value proposition strategies
For the majority of businesses, employee value propositions are characterised by a unique combination of five key elements: people, work, rewards, opportunities and environment.
Whether you prioritise learning and development or flexible work, be sure to ask yourself – what drives my employees to perform?
Developing an affordable EVP strategy that attracts, nurtures and retains top talent has never been easier.
Through these four low-cost strategies, you’ll be on your way to providing a unique and rewarding employee experience in no time!
If you have already established your EVP, we recommend following along to see if there are any areas in need of improvement.
1. Support Learning and Development (L&D) opportunities
Nowadays, you will find most jobseekers look beyond financial compensation to career growth opportunities and support from a company culture that encourages continuous training.
Offering educational resources and programs that enable employees to learn anytime, anywhere will set your business apart from competitors.
By focusing on concepts that are relevant to an employee’s individual needs and future career goals, you can make learning a valuable part of the work experience. L&D programs help empower employees to gain new skills and further their understanding.
People want to see how their job supports growth and contributes to their future career development.
This can be through:
- Skills-based training
- Leadership training
- Online courses
- Mentor programs
Online platforms such as Go1 (with its very own Employment Hero integration), Udemy and LinkedIn Learning can support your employees who wish to advance their skills and further their interests. Online courses are an excellent, cost-effective solution for businesses wishing to prioritise L&D in their EVP strategy.
If we take a look at an industry example, we can see that L&D is a key component of Google’s unique EVP:
“There’s no one kind of Googler, so we’re always looking for people who can bring new perspectives and life experiences to our teams. If you’re looking for a place that values your curiosity, passion, and desire to learn, if you’re seeking colleagues who are big thinkers eager to take on fresh challenges as a team, then you’re a future Googler.”
2. Provide greater work arrangement flexibility
Flexible work arrangements are of high value to many employees today. With modern technology allowing people to work across multiple locations and time zones, it’s no surprise companies are adopting the flexible working approach.
Flexible work is an umbrella term for any role which breaks the traditional 9-5, Monday-Friday, working standard. Whether it’s through offering a remote-based role, WFH opportunities or extended/additional lunch breaks, flexibility is an attractive EVP strategy for your business.
The best part is – it won’t come at the cost of productivity. In fact, flexible work is an excellent way to increase performance and retain talent! Embracing a flexible work culture speaks volumes to your employees about the importance of finding a healthy work-life balance.
At its core, flexibility provides employees with more control over where, when and how they operate. This helps to enhance employee engagement and foster an environment that supports meaningful work.
Marketing gurus – HubSpot have implemented flexible work strategies into their EVP to support employees and their personal lives:
“We’re dedicated to building an inclusive culture where employees can do their best work. Feedback, research, and our own employees show that the number one way to do that is by being flexible. Giving HubSpotters the freedom and flexibility to create their own work-life balance builds trust in our company, but it’s also just the right thing to do. That’s why flexibility is at the core of our benefits and culture, from family planning to financial planning.”
3. Implement a recognition program
Recognition programs, done right, can provide numerous benefits to both employees and businesses alike. According to the SHRM, 63% of companies with strong recognition programs saw a significant jump in productivity and ROI.
Luckily, you don’t need to spend crazy amounts on recognising hard work. A little recognition can go a long way in making your employees feel appreciated and valued for the work they produce.
Having a positive working environment with a strong recognition culture that motivates, supports and rewards employees extends far beyond material incentives.
Public acknowledgements and employee recognition using online platforms are excellent ways for employees to be recognised by both their colleagues and their superiors.
Some companies even offer L&D opportunities to recognise staff performance and support leadership development. Whether you choose to use a peer recognition platform like what we offer here at Employment Hero or say thank you in person, employee recognition can be a huge help in designing an unique employee value proposition.
4. Offer employee wellness programs
Over the last decade, we’ve seen a huge shift to a more strategic and people-focused HR. So it’s likely you’ve heard of employee wellness programs before.
Health and wellness initiatives aim to enhance the overall well-being of a company’s employees. Typically, employee wellness programs centre around mobility, physical activity, nutrition, wellbeing and mindfulness. By providing employees with the tools and resources to manage their health, wellness programs can improve productivity and engagement.
As health and wellness continue to be hot topics, it’s important for employers to take active measures to support employee wellbeing in their EVP. If you’re a little unsure where to begin, start by thinking of fun and exciting ways to reflect your company’s values and employee values.
For example, say your business is passionate about providing a safe, supportive and stress-free environment for your staff. A viable option would be to offer free mental health resources. Or if your teams thrive on competition, you could host a monthly step challenge with the whole company involved.
Curious about the wellbeing of your employees? Use these employee wellbeing survey questions to check in with your team members.
Build an irresistible employer brand
Just like employees, every organisation is different. That’s why your employer’s value proposition needs to be unique to your business and its individual values. For each of the EVP strategies mentioned above, start by considering how they can be tailored to fit employee targets and specificities.
The beauty is, that there are several affordable EVP strategies that won’t break the bank. Meaning no matter the size of your business, you can still show your people that you care.
By implementing these four low-cost strategies, you’ll also rediscover why your company is an exciting place to work. Designing a supportive and well-thought-out EVP will help drive profitability, increase engagement, improve retention and attract top talent to your company.
Not to mention your current employees will also serve as strong brand ambassadors. It really is a win-win situation for everybody! So what are you waiting for?
Download our EVP strategy template now.
