The Tech Professional Work Style Revolution Picks Up Steam
We’ve come a long way since the 1990s and 2000s, when the stereotype of the nerdy, socially awkward programmer was so widespread that you simply couldn’t avoid it. Perhaps the most famous of them all, Dennis Nedry of 1993’s “Jurassic Park,” provides a perfect example of the box that media and pop culture decided all tech professionals would be placed into. The real truth is, of course, far more complex; like any other profession, tech professionals cannot be stuffed into one homogenous group. They do, however, have preferences as a group that we would do well to pay attention to.
2023 will be the year that the best HR professionals act on what we now know about tech professionals, moving past stereotypes and taking a more active role in pushing their organizations to enact the change necessary to attract and retain tech talent. As every HR professional knows, you can only put so much lipstick on a pig; being able to sell your environment and culture to candidates is a powerful skill, but it must be backed up by the truth.
The things that are most important to tech professionals (beyond the givens of salary and traditional benefits like insurance) represent what we’re calling a work style revolution for tech professionals. We predict these elements will only become more important, and that gaps between what’s expected and what’s given will continue to convince tech professionals to search for new employers.
What HR Professionals Can Do Now
Tech professionals know how important they are to the short and long-term success of every organization (every company today is a tech company), and they want more than just to be compensated fairly. They want to define where they work (i.e., remote, hybrid, etc.), when they work (flexible hours), how they work (i.e., training and education, development opportunities, etc.) and why they work (i.e., parental leave, wellness programs, etc.).
The HR professionals who can make these a priority within their organizations will have incredibly powerful weapons in their tech recruiting and retention arsenal.
As noted, there’s an incredible opportunity for companies to set themselves apart by offering recruitment packages that combine a competitive salary and traditional benefits (healthcare, paid time off, etc.) with the things that technology professionals continue to care about.
According to our most recent Tech Salary Report, the three key benefits showing the largest gaps between importance to technology professionals and what they’re currently receiving are work-from-home stipends, training and education, and stock programs. Organizations that can offer tech professionals these benefits in addition to traditional benefits and competitive salaries will surely win the competition for tech talent in 2023.
If you are struggling to compete or win on salary and traditional compensation options, other areas with gaps in benefits expected vs. received include gym/fitness center reimbursement, commuter reimbursement, paid sick days, remote schedule options and flexible schedule. Check out the 2023 Salary Report, coming later this quarter, for updated stats!