According to a new survey conducted by Oasis, a Human Resources (HR) services provider, ensuring a safe work environment amid COVID-19 is the top priority among business leaders/CEOs. The emphasized on “workplace safety” has overtaken other critical business considerations such as: talent acquisition and professional development. Oasis, a Paychex® Company, conducted its national survey of 300 business leaders who employed 5 to 99 employees from a broad cross-section of industries. The results are now available in its white paper 2021 Priorities for Business Leaders: A U.S. Survey.
The shifting of priorities appears to be due to COVID-19, thus pushing “talent acquisition” from the top of the list—a spot it has held for the past 2 years. The new top five priorities as identified by CEOs are:
- Ensuring a safe workplace in light of COVID-19: 36%
- Offering competitive compensation and benefits (including employee assistance programs): 31%
- Developing employees and future leaders for succession: 29%
- Attracting strong, competent management and dedicated, capable staff: 28%
- Maintaining ongoing regulatory compliance: 28%
According to Oasis president, Teresa Carroll, “No matter the industry they serve, all businesses have had to adapt to new regulations and local and state mandates as the pandemic evolves. Likewise, whether employees have faced cutbacks or mental health challenges brought on by the pandemic, all workers have been impacted. In turn, this has brought workforce management and overall physical, financial, mental, and social employee wellness front and center among business leaders’ list of priorities.”
[SEE, Oasis press release for more details].
