How does your company use Glassdoor? At eQ we don’t have the Glassdoor tool all figured out quite yet, but we have a feeling we are on to something good. Glassdoor is a powerful tool that can be used to brand your business and attract talent into an organization.
Glassdoor created an Employees’ Choice Award that highlights businesses based upon reviews and rating provided by current and former employees. Employers can take elite status by becoming an “open company,” which means the company has a complete online profile including photo additions, reviews from current and former employees, responses to reviews and information about culture and benefits.
For example, Glassdoor found that, “54% of U.S. employees say that they believe their benefits package is better than what competitors offer.” This percentage compels the conclusion that there remains a lot of ambiguity in regard to what defines good benefits. Glassdoor provides users with the ability to review a multitude of benefits provided by an organization such as diversity programs, tuition assistance, dog friendly offices, free lunches, sabbaticals, onsite daycare, adoption assistance, health and wellness programs, and financial and retirement services.
Glassdoor surveys insight draw from what actual employees believe are most important in a company. There’s information about compensation, benefits, career paths and leadership strategies that WORK, and those that do not. The tool provides answers as to the questions about what top rated companies do in terms of branding and employee engagement, which can be tips for the rest of us to follow.
On the employee/candidate side of the equation, this information is GOLD. For employers…well it can be a bit daunting to have your information out there for public commentary. We know that organizations face adversity and negative public exposure can damage a reputation. The question is: how are companies preparing for this type of real-time transparency?
Here are three tips to save you from anxiety around Glassdoor:
Accept it. The name of the game is transparency. People are going to comment on your organization whether you like it or not. Use this as an opportunity to improve and show the world you are a great option for employment.
Utilize the response feature. Employers can respond to comments that might not be favorable to the organization. This is a great tool for addressing what may or may not be reality and communicating strategy to overcome the obstacle or misunderstanding.
Brand Yourself. Observe what is trending. Employer branding is a hot topic and people are talking about it. For example, check out #GDSummit. Just like a team before a game, you need to get people excited. Upload pictures that speak to your culture, talk about company or employee awards. In other words, give the company some personality. Job seekers are no longer just looking for “dirt” on Glassdoor; they are validating their thoughts about joining your team.
This movement towards transparency is helping business owners and executives open their eyes, roll up their sleeves and find out how people really feel. Not all the pressure will fall into the employers’ courts. If employees who provide reviews do not honor honesty and respect, than everyone suffers because Glassdoor would simply become a platform for complaining.
So if you have not already done so, sign up and let eQ know what you think!
As Talent Acquisition Manager, Jessica focuses on finding the right candidates to fit our clients’ needs. She works with our clients to understand the exact skills and attributes that would fit with the cultural climate and their environment.
