The New Office Normal: Attracting Talent in a Post-COVID World

Business leaders must adapt to an evolving hiring landscape

Recent history can be separated into two distinct eras: before and after COVID. The onset of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted almost every aspect of modern life, in some ways permanently. As a result, the hiring landscape looks significantly different now than it did in 2019.

Navigating this new normal may feel challenging for business owners, hiring managers and recruiters, but it’s actually an opportunity. By understanding what matters to employees in a post-COVID world, you’ll be better positioned to attract highly qualified workers and retain them longer, which ultimately leads to better business outcomes.

Build a culture of transparency & trust

Company culture is one of the most pressing concerns of prospective employees in the post-COVID era. So what does it mean to have a strong, positive company culture? It starts with treating employees with respect and trust, as well as creating policies that encourage transparency. This might mean giving your team some flexibility with their work hours (so long as the work gets done), inviting everyone in the company—not just executive leadership—to have a voice in meetings, communicating effectively and leading from a place of empathy.

Company culture can also be seen in the small, tangible benefits employees experience every day: break room coffee, team lunches and other rewards for a job well done. Keep in mind that every policy and message from leadership contributes to the overall company culture, so be thoughtful in what you communicate—and how. By treating your employees with respect, you’ll create the kind of work environment that attracts new talent.

For simple tips on building a positive company culture, check out Creating a Culture of Appreciation with Walmart Business.

Competitive pay pays off

Office perks are nice, but no amount of free pizza and summer Fridays can negate the need for a competitive wage. Inflation rose significantly in the months and years after the initial COVID outbreak, and many people are still dealing with the ramifications of that financial strain.

As America’s largest private employer, Walmart is no stranger to this new reality; in fact, we recently increased salaries for store managers company-wide. Increased pay is directly tied to productivity, recruitment and turnover, which makes it a smart investment in your business. It’s a no-brainer: pay your employees what they’re worth and they’ll make it worth your while. After all, it’s much easier to excel at your job if you’re not constantly worried about economic realities outside the workplace.

Work-life balance is a need, not a want

It was only a few years ago that “hustle culture” was dominating headlines. This philosophy, which encouraged coming in early, staying late and dedicating free time to side gigs to bring in even more money, was adopted by many members of Generation X and Millennials. It’s easy to confuse this relentless need to hustle with ambition, but the two concepts are not interchangeable—and the former leads to burnout, excessive stress and a lack of work-life balance.

Compare that environment with Generation Z’s work habits. At the onset of the pandemic, the oldest members of Gen Z were very young adults, many still making their way through college. They saw the consequences of hustle culture and their older contemporaries had to weigh staying healthy against making a living. It had a significant impact on how they envisioned their careers.

Since Glassdoor predicts that Gen Z will overtake Baby Boomers in the workforce this year, it’s imperative that we learn from their example and take work-life balance seriously. It’s reasonable to expect stellar performances from your team members during work hours, but they also need time to rest. If the office is so stressful that it’s affecting their personal lives—or their workloads are so demanding that they no longer have personal lives—that’s only going to lead to negative consequences in the future. Moreover, once your company gains that reputation, it’s going to be more difficult to recruit skilled employees.

To combat hustle culture mentality, stress the importance of work-life balance in job listings. Make it a part of your company culture. Encourage employees to take time when they need it so they can come back refreshed and ready to work. Offer comprehensive benefits packages with separate sick and vacation leave policies so employees don’t feel penalized for taking time to recover when they’re not feeling well. Not only do these policies create a more supportive work environment, they ultimately support your business goals by creating an engaged, motivated workforce.

Business success starts with the right strategies

Running a business isn’t easy, but hiring the right team makes it far more rewarding. Whether you’re a first-time leader or an experienced entrepreneur, starting out with thoughtful strategies in place can provide a roadmap for success. If you’re looking for more resources, check out the Walmart Business content hub for marketing tips, financial guides and success stories from other small businesses.

When it comes time to equip the office, you can get more out of your budget with Walmart Business’s wide selection of furniture, electronics, office supplies and so much more. Already have an account? Upgrade to a Walmart Business+ membership for perks like free shipping,¹ free delivery from local stores on orders over $35² and 2% back in Walmart Business Rewards.³ You could end up saving over $500 a year!⁴

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Restrictions apply. 

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).