Retail and service industries struggle to fill open roles, even with raising the minimum wage.

The goal should be a thriving wage, plus benefits to keep your company competitive in the labour market. Employers that offset employees' fixed costs, like child care, medical care and paid time off, will have the advantage.

Another factor that can make candidates look beyond numbers is if employers can prove a healthy work culture. 

Culture is essential in hybrid workplaces. Knowledge workers will want to know if employers will recognize their productivity and not subject them to excessive physical, emotional and mental stress.

Employees will want to know where they will work. 89% of workers expect to work from home sometime after the pandemic, so a policy where work from home may be considered in the future will no do.

Expectations should be clear. You're either in the office, or out, or hybrid. 

For decades, expectations around productivity and output have been without the understanding that we're human beings. So we need to reconsider our expectations for work output and productivity.

Candidates want to see real results to end workplace injustice.

It is better to be upfront about your status than to try and show an idealistic image. Be willing to be accountable publicly and honestly about where you are, where you want to be, and how you will get there.