The Obsidian office is full of millennials, a generation defined as individuals born between 1981 and 1996. Another way to describe this generation? Job-hoppers. According to a Gallup report, six in 10 millennials are open to new career opportunities and are more likely that any other generation to switch jobs. This heightened level of turnover comes at a cost to the American economy – a big cost. Think $30.5 billion annually, according to Gallup. If you are a business owner, especially a small-business owner, how can you woo those flight-eager millennials and others in your office to stick around? Let’s explore.

Flexibility

Everyone is busy – personally and professionally – which is why offering a little wiggle room here and there can really score employers some points. Flexibility can ease the stress a heavy workload and active personal life can bring. So, how do you do it without sacrificing quality? Give employees the opportunity to work from home a couple days a month to focus on strategy or let them begin their day at home if they have a 10 a.m. meeting off-site. Both ideas are simple ways to please the masses without reducing productivity.  Obsidian is proof of this!

“My favorite part about working for OPR is definitely the flexibility. If I have a meeting in Collierville one morning, I have the ability to work out east at my house until then instead of driving all the way Downtown.” – Gracie Lee, joined Obsidian in May 2016

Benefits

Offering employee benefits is an obvious way to keep talent under your roof and poachers at bay. Health insurance, robust retirement plans and surplus vacation days are obvious go-to choices. Each shows that you are financially invested in the current and future well-being of your team. To go above and beyond, consider covering more than the norm when it comes to health care coverage. Believe it or not, Obsidian covers 100 PERCENT of the team’s medical, vision and dental premiums. Talk about going the extra mile!

“Obsidian’s 100 percent coverage of our health insurance plan is incredible. Employers that offer that are few and far between.” – Christina Babu, joined Obsidian in March 2017

Work-life balance

Let’s face it, work can be demanding. Putting in more than the typical 40 hours a week has become a regular occurrence for many, especially those in the corporate arena. Being a hard worker is admirable, of course, but understanding that burnout is real is crucial to business owners. To alleviate the stress a fast-paced work environment can bring, create a nice work-life balance for employees by shutting down the office an hour early on Fridays if workload and schedules allow. We do that here! Another unique perk Obsidian offers is 2.5 time, which is 2.5 hours a week that can be used by employees on activities that are beneficial to their overall health and wellness. Think a CycleBar class (that’s me!), a much-needed massage or a relaxing yoga session.

“Obsidian stresses the importance of work-life balance, and our 2.5 time demonstrates that commitment to our well-being. Being able to leave a few minutes early to beat the after-work gym rush or make an exercise class across town is the best!” – Carlee Smith, joined Obsidian in May 2018

Since joining Obsidian in 2015, I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying the many perks it has to offer. I oftentimes chat with my friends about what this fun thing I call a job offers me and they think I’m kidding – it’s that good! (Did I mention we recently went on an all-expenses-paid vacation to Turks & Caicos after reaching a goal set by our owner, Courtney!)? If you’re an employer, I encourage you to build a culture that breeds loyalty. If you’re an employee, don’t settle for anything less. Momma always said, “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I’m happy to say I’ve found just that in Obsidian.