There is a lot of misleading information about becoming an employer of choice. An employer of choice is about creating an organizational culture that meets the changing needs and interests of employees and organizations.

1. Attracting and Retaining Talent
Becoming an Employer of Choice
Dr Tim Baker

2. Understand that an employer of choice is about changing the
employment relationship.
Aims &
Objectives
Identify a framework for changing the employment relationship in
their organisations.
Consider several ways of changing the workplace culture to
become an employer of choice.

3. An
employer of choice
is a great place to work;
it reflects the changing
needs and interests
of
employees and
organisations

4. Why is becoming an employer of choice important?
It is about creating a workplace
culture
that is likely to
attract and retain top talent

5. Psychological Contract
Individual
Organisation
I offer
The
organisation
expects
I expect
The
organisation
offers

6. The Changing Employment Relationship Values
Old Values
New Values
Specialised Employment
Flexible Deployment
Internal Focus
Customer-focus
Focus on Job
Performance-focus
Functional-based Work
Project-based Work
Human Dispirit & Work
Human Spirit &
Work
Commitmen
t
Learning & Development
Loyalty
Training
Closed Information
Open Information
Baker, T. B. (2014). “Attracting and Retaining Talent: Becoming and Employer of
Choice”

7. New Employment Relationship Model
Values
Flexible Deployment
Customer Focus
Performance Focus
Project-Based Work
Human Spirit & Work
Commitment
Learning &
Development
Corresponding Mindsets
Employee
Willingness to work in a variety
of organisational roles & settings.
Serve the customer before your
manager.
Employer
Encourage employees to work in
other organisational roles.
Provide information, skills &
incentives to focus externally.
Focus on what you do, not where Link rewards and benefits with
you work.
performance rather than
organisational dependency.
Accept yourself as a projectStructure work around projects
based worker rather than a
rather than organisational
functional-based employee.
Valuing work that is meaningful.
functions.
Provide work (wherever possible)
that is meaningful.
Commit to assisting the
organisational achieve its
outcomes.
Commit to lifelong learning.
Commit to assisting employees to
achieve their personal objectives.
Willing to show enterprise and
initiative.
Providing employees with access
to a wide range of information.
Open Information
Enter into a partnership for
employee development.

8. Changing Needs of Employees
20th Century
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Job security
Technical capacity
Jobs
Functional work
Careers
Long-term loyalty
Qualifications
Reliability
21st Century
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Employability
Communication capacity
Roles
Cross functional work
Meaningful work
Short-term commitment
Lifelong learning
Enterprise

9. Changing Needs of Employers
20th Century
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Stability
Quality assurance
Clearly defined jobs
Hierarchy
Career paths
Loyal workforce
Qualified staff
Compliance
21st Century
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Manoeuvrability
Customer responsiveness
Clearly defined performance indicators
Malleability
Engagement
Committed workforce
Learning organisation
Initiative

10. Does the HRD industry have a future?

11. Value of Flexible Deployment

12. Value of Customer Focus

13. Value of Performance Focus
Convert Job
descriptions to role
descriptions

14. The Work People Do
Job Tasks
Non-job Tasks
Team role
Technical skills
Innovation &
Continuous
Career role
Improvement role
SOURCE: The End of the Performance Review

15. Value of Project Based Work

17. Value of Human Spirit and Work

18. Value of Commitment
• Desire: identify with the goals of the
organization
• Cost: it is too costly to leave
• Obligation: I feel a sense of attachment due to
obligation
Meyer & Allen, 1991

19. Value of Learning
& Development
Problem-centred approach
Technical-centred approach
Person-centred approach

20. Value of Open Information
I want employees to show more initiative
Manager
I want to think for myself
I will have to make the decision
I will just follow my manager’s direction
Employee

21. Corporate Culture Change Cycle

22. 20% off the price
Normally $35 plus postage
You get my new book for
$28 plus postage!!
Send me an email
tim@winnersatwork.com.au
by 12 midnight tonight