If you have attempted to hire someone in Central Florida in the past six months, you are a brave soul. Many a manager have sat at their home office, dining room table, kids’ bedroom desk, or wherever they have been working, and stared at resumes while their phone calls to candidates are sent to voicemail. But why? The answer may not be what you think.
It is 10:03 AM as the hiring manager sips her morning coffee. With a slight adrenaline kick, she places a third call to a job candidate for the company receptionist role, which has been open for far too long. Calls at 9:58 AM, 10:00 AM – and now 10:03 AM – have all been made to a prospective hire who had no intention of answering.
It’s called ghosting and it can be a haunting experience to say the least. It is when you are supposed to have an interview, or have someone start their first day of work, and they simply disappear. For most caring adults, the first thoughts are, “oh my goodness, I hope everyone is ok and they were not is some sort of tragic accident.” Unfortunately, when it happens three or four times, you start to understand that the applicant was simply not interested in the role any longer and decided there was no point in continuing the process. At first, you might ask yourself, “Why would they not just tell me they are taking another position?” At some point, however, you learn to stop asking that question and move on, assuming it is for the best.
But one question you should ask is, “If we paid more than $12.00 an hour, would more people answer my calls and want to work here?”
If you really want a great employee who is invested in being part of your company, 2021 might just be the year to take a second look at how much you are paying in this new market. It will not be long until the minimum wage is $15.00 an hour, and for many companies, it already is. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
One of the challenges companies face is that candidates are making about $14.38 an hour to not work. Due to COVID-19, many folks are receiving an additional $300 per week on top of their typical $275 per week unemployment check. When combined, this can equal a $14.38 per hour pay rate. Keep in mind that there is talk of the additional weekly amount increasing to $400 per week, which would make the hourly rate $16.88.
This does not mean that people do not want to work and I am by no means suggesting this. It is simply the truest form of supply and demand. If someone is bringing in the equivalent of $14.38 per hour without going into an office, that will win over $12.00 per hour to work in an office 40 hours each week.
On top of that, someone who is making $14.38 an hour to not work will lose that guaranteed income once they start a new job and we all know there is no guarantee the job will work out. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush is how the old saying goes, only in this case it is the golden egg in the hand is worth more than the bronze pebbles in the bush.
Companies need to be competitive when it comes to attracting good workers. They need to advertise their company benefits, opportunities for career growth, amazing culture and all the terrific things they do in the community. They also need to look in the mirror when it comes to being competitive on pay.
If you are tired of being ghosted and having managers upset with how long job openings have been vacant, please do not hesitate to contact Hiregy. We are happy to learn more about the roles you are trying to fill and provide our insight on where the pay should be set based on the specific requirements of each position.
Hiregy has spent the last 16 years recruiting local candidates in the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando areas, and we certainly have a terrific understanding of what it takes to get exceptional talent in the market right now.
To schedule a free consultation, click here.