The term ‘employer branding’ has been gaining significance in HR circles in recent years. In the age of social media and employee feedback platforms, most if not all job candidates search online to get the scoop on companies before deciding whether to work for them. Studies show that 75% of candidates identify a company’s reputation as a key consideration when exploring new career opportunities.¹ To strengthen their employer brand, companies have also been investing considerable resources in their Marketing and Communications functions with involvement from some prominent brand ambassadors.

So what is Employer Branding and why is it important?

Companies regularly focus on their consumer brand to enhance how their products and services are perceived by customers with the goal of increasing their reputation and sales. There is a growing recognition that the same level of attention is needed to build a strong employer brand to compete effectively in a competitive job market.

Simply put, the employer brand is a company’s reputation as an employer. It is a key component of the Employer Value Proposition (EVP) for job seekers and employees in exchange for their experience, talent, and skills. Positive employer branding helps to attract and retain quality employees, who are crucial to the success and growth of the business.

What advantages are there for a company with a strong Employer Brand?

1. Employee Engagement and Retention.

A strong employer brand makes employees proud to be part of the organization. They align and resonate with the company’s values and are eager to contribute to the success of the business. The collective pride drives performance and productivity, from senior leaders to new hires, resulting in a more stable and motivated workforce.

In the recently published Philippines Best Workplaces 2021 Insights Report, the statements ‘I want to work here for a long time’ and ‘People look forward to coming to work here’ both garnered an average of 92% from Philippines Best Workplaces, 14 points higher than the average of 78% from Philippines Rest.²

2. Attracting Qualified Job Candidates

Today, job seekers can simply key in ‘great place to work’, ‘best companies to work for’ or ‘top companies to work for’ on search engines to identify those companies with the best reputations. Most everything a job candidate needs to know can be found online and shared on social media. In fact, 86% of workers would not apply for, or continue to work for, a company that has a bad reputation with former employees or the general public.³ 

Having a strong employer brand gives an organization a strong advantage in the competitive recruitment market. Companies with strong employer brands receive 50% more qualified job applicants¹ giving the company the best choices while spending less time and effort in filling open positions.

3. Strong Brand Ambassadors

Your employees have the potential to be your best brand champions. At great workplaces employees have consistently positive workplace experiences across roles and levels.

Recent data on Philippines Best Workplaces show that the statement ‘I would strongly recommend my company as a great place to work,’ garnered an average of 95% from the top 10 Best Workplaces as compared with an average of 83% from Philippines Rest. Their positive experiences translate to good feedback in surveys that help build your employer brand. Happy employees also openly promote their company on social media, brag about their workplace culture with peers, and go the extra mile for their customers. This makes the company stronger without having to spend more on marketing because awareness increases through word of mouth – from your most important evangelists – your employees.

4. Financial Gains & Returns

The benefits of a strong employer brand translate into financial savings through improved recruiting and employee retention including:

• 50% lower cost per hire at companies with strong employer brands¹
• Best Companies have half the average turnover compared with other companies in their industries¹
  
  

To further recognize the value of employer branding through the journey of one of Philippines Best Workplaces, and learn how to build your own employer brand from one of Philippines best branding & communications experts, join us on a Two-Part Webinar Series entitled: Why Your Employer Brand Matters in Times of Transition on May 19 and June 2, 2021. Click here to register.