How Important Are Benefits When Recruiting

When recruiting in a highly competitive market such as healthcare, organizations may have to think outside the box to attract quality providers. There is a national shortage of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians, which means simply advertising a competitive salary may no longer be enough to onboard top talent.

While salary is still reported as the number one deciding factor for candidates, there are also a number of other benefits that candidates are weighing when selecting opportunities to pursue. The following is a list of common benefits that candidates seek (other than salary):

• Quality Insurance Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life)

• 401k Plans with Employer Contributions

• Stock Options and/or Profit-Sharing

• Generous Paid Vacation Time

• Paid Family Leave

• Work-From-Home / Remote Day Options

• Casual Dress Code

• Professional Expenses Allowance (Membership Fees, CMEs, etc.)

• Career Growth Opportunities

• Employee Recognition Programs

• Overall Considerations for Work/Life Balance

One of the biggest questions we get from candidates right now is, “Can I work from home sometimes?” While much of the healthcare process still needs to be done in person, there are creative ways to allow providers to work remotely, even if it’s not 100% of the time. Exploring and offering telehealth options is a way to make your opportunity more appealing than that of your competitors. In a recent 2022 Job Seeker Report by JazzHR, 45% of job seekers said they would be willing to accept a lower salary to work remotely, even some of the time.

Benefit offerings have also increased in the last few years as the competition for employees has grown. The following shows a significant increase in benefits offered pre- and post-pandemic:

Considering all of this and our ever-changing employment landscape, it would be wise for any employer right now to review (and possibly augment) the benefit offerings their organization currently has, in order to ensure they’re staying competitive in the current healthcare market.