In the United States, Labor Day is seen as the unofficial end of summer. It’s often celebrated as the final hoorah before the frigid winter months creep in. But this Labor Day has a much larger significance, one that dates to its original establishing. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Labor Day is defined as “an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers.” The holiday began in the late 19th century when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being. In this era of mass resignations amid a global pandemic, this Labor Day aims to reclaim its original meaning, and employers should follow suit.

The Great Resignation has left Talent Acquisition professionals hopeless about what happens next but we’re here to tell you that not all hope is lost. Those who oversee hiring still have a role to play. Employers hold this incredible opportunity to pave the way toward the future of work. And this exodus from the labor market is exactly the catalyst needed to push society there. It’s our chance to finally embrace what the labor activists fought for recognition, value, and respect. All of this is powered by compassion and powerful tech. So, let’s jump into how the Great Resignation is paving the way for the future of work.

Embracing Humanity

Eighteen months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and job seekers are on the hunt for stability. As offices begin to open, many are wondering what the future of their work-life will look like. While under lockdown, job seekers have taken isolation as the opportunity to reflect on where their career paths have taken them and where things could be improved.

“Over the last 18 months, we’ve learned so much about ourselves. We are different people now. We can’t wind back the clock and retreat back into our former selves,” said author, business consultant, and motivational speaker Marcus Buckingham in an August 12th Instagram post.

For employers, now is not the time to recede back into old habits but rather begin to build the foundation for a greater, more innovative, people-focused future. Rather than deny the humanity of our workers, it’s time to embrace it. Allow employees and job seekers the opportunities to share what they’ve experienced, honor what they’ve learned, and use it as fuel to create a new standard. You may not like what they may have to say, but they will remember that you listened and will come back to work.

“Dismiss [our experiences] and like a diver rushed to the surface, our blood will boil. And we will leave. And you won’t know why,” said Buckingham.

Carpe Omnia: Seize The Opportunity

Therein lies the Great Opportunity, listening to your workforce and adapting where possible. When you listen and adapt to what your job seekers are demanding, suddenly your job becomes a lot easier.

When PandoLogic studied job seeker sentiment with Tracey Parsons, architect of the recruitment-marketing and employer-brand movement and owner of Parsons Strategic Consulting, it was discovered that pay and predictability were top of mind for many job seekers. Your workforce is clamoring for stability and transparency. So, why wait? Give them that peace of mind upfront.

PandoLogic’s data showed that when employers added wages into job titles and descriptions, candidates apply to a job between 5 to 12 times more often than jobs that do not contain that information. And when employers shared even more information that gave insight into shift timing, hybrid or remote roles, and location, those jobs were applied to almost 40 times more often.

Today’s job seeker is holding out for better working conditions, better income, and more flexible opportunities. And it’s likely that these sentiments have been there all along. But in light of recent events, we’re seeing an accelerated push towards transformation. It’s now in employer’s hands to seize this opportunity to listen to employees and make the necessary changes.

When Transparency Is Key, Let Tech Light The Way

This opportunity doesn’t stop there. On the flip side, there’s also an opportunity to improve how Talent Acquisition happens. And in that case, the future of work is already here. It’s in the form of HR tech. There’s an army of tools currently available, ready to help you lead the charge and bring you back to your human mission of connecting with your workforce. Tools like programmatic job advertising.

Programmatic can place your job ads in the spots where they’ll be seen by your target audience. It can give you the confidence you need to make big changes—and advocate for your workforce. So that when you inevitably walk into a meeting about your hiring needs, you’re armed with the relevant data points and key performance metrics that can push society into the new era of work. With that data, you can advocate for what works, eliminate what doesn’t, and transform your efforts into results.

Making It Happen

So, how can you make this a reality? What actionable steps can you take to capitalize on the opportunity set before you? The way forward is simple.

• Be an open book. Transparency is vital. Become an active participant in the future of work by breaking down the walls that prevent communication. Embrace the idea that your workforce is comprised of humans that are looking to make a comfortable living. Advertise your wages and bonuses in your job titles and descriptions and look to your current workforce to see where improvements can be made.
• Stay up to date on market trends. Market trends are shifting rapidly. Staying current means gaining a competitive advantage with both current and future job seekers. Let data guide you to where you need to go by studying your current hiring benchmarks. From there you can gain a better understanding where you’re headed so you pivot where needed. Don’t know where you stand? Find a partner that can tell you these data points up front so that you’re in the know from the start.
• Set clear expectations with your workforce. Traditional hiring processes are riddled with communication gaps. To keep your candidate pipeline full and happy, regularly update them on the latest developments. Consider any conversational AI tools to make it easier for your team to nurture candidates through the hiring process.

We have this incredible opportunity to build the future of work, so why not take advantage? This Labor Day challenge yourself to think beyond the status quo of today so you can build the world of tomorrow.