As community-based organizations, food co-ops are all about serving people. And to do a good job serving people, you need great employees. Articulating the case for why co-ops are great employers is a gap in our sector, but fortunately there are many ways co-ops can leverage our strengths and communicate the benefits of a co-op career to potential and current employees.
So, what are the benefits of a co-op career? For one thing, co-ops are a different kind of business, structured to reinvest in themselves and the communities they serve, including employees. Co-ops are values-driven and committed to the triple bottom line: people, planet and profit. In addition, many co-ops offer a competitive total compensation package that includes wages and benefits, with more co-ops moving to a livable wage model.
Culturally, co-op employees find they become part of a community of like-minded people who share values and an interest in the cooperative model. Staff get to know shoppers and owners more personally than at typical retail jobs and often form deep, long-lasting friendships with their coworkers.
Recruiting and hiring new employees
Touting the co-op difference begins in your recruitment and hiring efforts. Be sure that all key touchpoints with employment candidates express what makes your co-op a good employer and why they should work there. These include job postings, applications and the employment section of your co-op’s website. New hire orientation and onboarding materials are another important avenue for sharing your message with new employees.
Does your co-op offer a special benefit that makes it stand out among area employers? For example, you may have a strong professional development program or offer better wages for a similar skill level than other similar-size businesses in your community. Highlight it! Promote these unique benefits to potential employees.
Engagement, retention and advancement of current staff
Do current employees know that the co-op is a good employer? Don’t miss opportunities to point out and play up the benefits of a co-op career. It’s also powerful to connect staff to the co-op’s mission and how it serves the local community and the greater good. Use the co-op’s communication vehicles — staff newsletter, team meetings, all-staff meetings, breakroom bulletin board — to convey these messages on a regular basis. Highly engaged employees who feel good about coming to work each day will “show up” better and provide excellent customer service, which ultimately helps the co-op be more successful.
Open conversations play a key role in retaining staff, especially high-potential employees. At an annual review and throughout the year, supervisors and HR staff can ask broad questions about how things are going: Do you enjoy your work? Are you interested in other positions at the co-op? What challenges are you facing? Co-ops want to be good employers and improve the employee experience over time. Thus, co-ops are open to employee input in ways that other companies may not be.
Co-ops also do a good job of promoting staff internally. Take time to make staff aware of job openings and encourage them to apply for those positions. Finally, tell employees that you want them to stay at the co-op — it sounds simple, but it’s a gesture that’s easily overlooked! Thank them for choosing the co-op and let them know you’re glad they’re here.
Sharing the story: Why the co-op is a great place to work
In telling the story of what makes the co-op a great place to work, think about what sets your co-op apart. Perhaps you invest in professional development, offer competitive wages and benefits, have a great employee recognition program or enjoy a positive work culture because of a high level of staff engagement. The key is to identify what makes you special and brag about it — don’t be modest!
Along with more general benefits of the cooperative business model, reflect on what your co-op does especially well. If you’re not sure what that is, think about what you could do better and focus on making improvements. Creating a list of reasons why your co-op is a great employer will make it easy to share your story with both existing and potential employees.
