5 Ways Green Companies Attract Job Seekers Today
Aligning with personal beliefs and being a part of a positive work culture has drawn job candidates to company’s prioritizing sustainability.
An emerging differentiator for recruiters in today’s job market is a company’s commitment to sustainability action. New and young professionals are pursuing job opportunities with green companies that prioritize social and environmental issues, including climate action. Green employers that take environmental responsibility seriously, with public commitments and published results, are finding more success recruiting top candidates in a competitive recruiting landscape.
To attract top talent, HR professionals, people operations managers and recruiters can gain a competitive edge by shining a spotlight on sustainability commitments and results in recruitment strategies.
The Business Case for Sustainability in Talent Acquisition
While commonly overlooked by many hiring teams, utilizing sustainability commitments as a tool in recruitment can produce higher quality candidates and streamline the recruiting process. As new individuals enter the workforce they take into consideration a company's priorities and how they align with their own beliefs. Take a look at the facts:
72% of Gen Z and 71% of Millennial professionals say environmental credentials and policies are important when considering a potential employer in a 2024 Deloitte survey.
SHRM found an evident improvement in employee retention. Employee loyalty for green companies with effective sustainability programs increased by 38% and a boost in morale by 55%.
According to IBM's research, 71% of employees and job seekers consider environmentally sustainable companies more appealing.
What Employees are Looking for in a Company
Incorporating sustainability into recruitment is a game changer for green companies wanting to recruit top talent. There are a variety of reasons potential hires prefer environmentally friendly workplaces. Here are a few ways sustainability is attracting prospective employees:
Alignment with Personal Beliefs: Professionals are searching for companies that align with their beliefs. Environmental responsibility is top of mind for younger hires, especially those between the ages of 22-35, as trends have shown. Working for a green company that shares a passion for sustainability initiatives can make employees feel better about how they are contributing to society as a whole.
Commitment to CSR: Following through on sustainability goals and initiatives builds credibility. Individuals are searching for businesses that do not greenwash and are trustworthy. A lack of care for the impact a company has on its surrounding communities and environment can lead to a company falling to the bottom of a job seekers list.
Eco-Friendly Perks and Incentives: Businesses that encourage employees to select greener alternatives through incentives can appeal to more job seekers. It can look like a paid half day volunteering with local environmental groups or custom-tailored rewards that employees will use to ensure that employees don’t end up with a closet full of company t-shirts they’ll never wear. Employee experience software, like Motivosity and HeyTaco, offer an easy way to share eco-friendly perks and recognize individuals driving sustainability within the company. This can create a positive work environment for employees that they can thrive in.
Opportunities for Growth: Once hired, employees can learn sustainability skills and grow as professionals. They can be a part of an ESG committee and actively have a voice in initiatives or ideas to implement. For job seekers who want to continuously grow within a company, sustainability is a great route.
Employee Engagement: Group sustainability activities and events can bring employees together. By participating, individuals can see how their actions are contributing to positive change within the whole company. Sustainability committees are another way employees would be able to grow close professionally. Implementing sustainability recruitment strategies can excite candidates about participating in any initiatives or projects.
Incorporating Sustainability in Recruiting Strategies
Embarking on a sustainability journey can significantly enhance recruitment efforts, in addition to unlocking revenue opportunities with new and existing customers. By committing to environmental responsibility, green companies not only improve their public brand perception but also attract top talent who value sustainability.
RyeStrategy supports small and medium sized businesses on their climate journey with full-service carbon management solutions to work to incorporate climate action into every part of your business. Knowledgeable sustainability managers provide easy-to-consume educational support for employees, helping them understand and contribute to your sustainability goals. This empowers your workforce, making your company an attractive place for prospective employees who prioritize working for environmentally responsible employers.
Sustainability themes and messaging are an emerging tool HR professionals can start using now to differentiate and attract potential employees, while also doing their part to help the planet in the fight against climate change.
Schedule a meeting today to talk with a sustainability manager and learn more about how to begin.
Learn about our affordable carbon footprint solutions for small and medium-sized businesses
Book a free strategy session to discuss your climate goals with a sustainability manager.
Check out our blogs company climate action below:
About RyeStrategy
Based in Seattle, RyeStrategy is a CDP-accredited, mission-oriented company specialized in carbon accounting, mitigation coaching, and climate disclosure solutions for organizations at any point in their sustainability journey. Learn how RyeStrategy helped Salesforce, Ideascale, and Wazoku achieve their sustainability goals.
From exhaustive carbon footprinting and mitigation coaching, to setting science-based targets and reporting climate data to CDP, SBTi or custom reporting platforms, RyeStrategy acts as a hands-on extension of the team, custom-tailoring services to fulfill climate disclosure requirements easily and accurately.
Meet with a sustainability specialist to learn more about RyeStrategy solutions.
