How often have we heard some company owner or representative declare: “Our employees are our most valuable asset?” Certainly more than occasionally. Some companies have even adopted this claim as their byword. In this era of more-than-full employment and a growing shortage of qualified job applicants in virtually every industry, those words have now become a reality for most employers. The unfortunate fact, however, is that few companies, their owners, their managers or supervisors have taken that claim to heart. Despite the increasing difficulty and expense of recruiting and retaining suitable employees, little effort has been made by most employers to actually demonstrate that they truly value those “assets.” In all but a few workplaces it remains work as usual, with little if any effort made to show genuine employee consideration.
While wages are finally trending upward — largely due to the competitive job market, the recent tax overhaul, and state-mandated minimum wage increases — it isn’t always a matter of more money that makes employees feel appreciated. Even today, surveys show that most managers and supervisors believe that what matters most to employees are the tangible things such as wages, benefits and promotions. Yet studies have for years confirmed that what’s actually most important to the majority of employees is having a boss that genuinely cares about them — one that’s fair and makes them feel a part of the company. No doubt, there are some employees who care more about money and benefits than an employer’s thoughtful attention. But they would be the exception.