The Great Resignation sent shockwaves through companies in the US and beyond. In a few short months, workers left their positions in record numbers. In 2021 alone, 47.4 million Americans voluntarily left their jobs. The evidence indicates this trend has passed – however, it highlights an underlying problem: employees aren’t satisfied with their jobs. The contributing factors are manifold, including poor work-life balance, extra responsibility without pay, little room for advancement, and toxic workplace culture.
If you’re an employer who goes above and beyond, it can be frustrating to be tarred with the same brush. That’s where employer seals come in. They’re a third-party confirmation of your company’s work environment, something to advertise to aspiring candidates as the hallmark of a quality business.
Table of Contents
What is an Employer Seal?
Put simply, an employer seal is an award for companies confirming the work they do for their employees. You’ll see similar style seals on food packaging or for other products. These seals usually confer that a product meets the awarding organization’s stringent standards.
In the UK, the British Lion Scheme stamps eggs with a “red lion” and a code to ensure they meet the salmonella reduction criteria. Meanwhile, the Red Tractor Assurance Scheme is a hallmark of quality in food products, animal feed, and fertilizer.
Consumers see these stamps and know that the food meets the highest standards in farming without doing extensive background research.
In the same way, an employer seal is a public recognition of a positive work environment. It helps prospective employees distinguish a business from its competitors, possibly leading to more job applications and a lower turnover.
Types of Employer Seals
Not all employer seals are for the same thing. Awards can be in recognition of outstanding charity work, climate-consciousness, commitment towards diversity, and other key areas. The United States Institute for Quality (USIQ) awards three seals:
-
- Family Friendly Company. Based on a comprehensive anonymous survey and HR interview of employee satisfaction, company work-life balance, and family-friendly features.
- World´s Best Employer: Based on scientific findings and supported by artificial intelligence, our team compiled numerous data sets to determine the “WORLD’S BEST EMPLOYERS” neutrally, independently and holistically.
- Top Employer. Conveyed following a comprehensive assessment of salary levels, sustainable corporate management, career opportunities, and employee survey.
Who is the United States Institute for Quality?
The United States Institute for Quality is a organization dedicated to high workplace standards. It has developed a set of rigorous standards and assessments to evaluate a company’s performance in three key areas.
First, it conducts a thorough survey of employees and consumers to assess the company’s current standing. Next, it performs HR interviews to see how the team responds to employee problems. And finally, it reviews the other aspects of the company to measure its performance compared to their standards.
As they note:
“USIQ’s certifications were developed according to scientific criteria and offer certified organizations comprehensive added value in addition to the seal of approval.”
PhDr. Oliver Scharfenberg, CEO and Founder
As a third-party assessor, its awards are highly regarded. Only companies that meet their requirements receive the employee seal and benefit from its results.
How Can Companies Benefit from an Employer Seal
Earning an employer seal is a big deal. It can reinvigorate your brand or showcase the hard work you’ve done. After all, creating a harmonious company culture that works for employees isn’t easy. Here are some key benefits you can expect:
-
- Stand Out in the Crowd: An employer seal isn’t just a badge—it’s your brand’s shining star, making you the talk of the industry!
-
- Magnet for Top Talent: Why chase talent when you can have them knocking at your door? A seal is like a talent magnet!
-
- Boost Team Morale: Let your team bask in the pride of being part of a recognized company. Happy teams, stellar outputs!
-
- Get Ahead of the Game: In the business race, an employer seal is your turbo boost, leaving competitors in the dust.
-
- High-Five to HR: That shiny seal? It’s a big nod to the incredible HR practices and workplace vibes you’ve cultivated. Go team!
-
- Win Trust Like a Pro: Clients and investors don’t just see a seal; they see a trustworthy partner. Seal the deal with confidence!
How to Earn an Employer Seal
Ready to put your company on the map? Earning your employer seal is a lengthy process, but it’s worth the effort. Different organizations will have specific criteria and specifications to get a seal. For USIQ, you should:
Top Employer
To stand out as a top-tier employer, follow this streamlined certification process:
Kick-off with Data Collection: Start by conducting an online employee survey and HR interview.
Analyze and Evaluate: Dive deep into the insights from both the employee survey and the HR interview.
Reap the Rewards: On successful certification, you’ll receive a quality seal valid for two tenure periods (2025/2026 and 2026/2027), along with two sleek acrylic displays and a detailed tabular evaluation of the employee survey. The standards for the employee surveys are universal and typically take around 10 minutes (per employee). The HR interview, on the other hand, lasts roughly an hour.
As for the costs? They’re determined by your employee count. The pricing includes the online survey, performance survey/management interview evaluation, and certification by USIQ ? Contact us with your requirements for a tailored quote.
Continued Excellence and Maintaining Your Seal
As you can see, employer seals are only issued for a 24-month period, i.e., 2025/2026 or 2026/2027. Once the new approval time arrives, the previous seal is no longer valid.
An employer seal isn’t a one-time badge of honor – it requires continued excellence and effort to maintain those standards or even to raise the bar higher. Just as you update your benchmarks, you should consistently strive to foster a caring, collaborative, and successful work environment.
Here’s how:
-
- Don’t wait for your certificate to expire. Regular assessments can identify areas for improvement and help maintain your previous standards.
-
- You’ll want to stay current on the latest USIQ (or other awarding bodies) guidelines to ensure you stay aligned.
-
- Encourage feedback. Your employees are your best auditors – organize feedback sessions like town hall meetings or small group interviews to get valuable insights to improve your workplace.
-
- Always renew your certificate. You’ll have to go through the same steps as when you first applied.
-
- Celebrate with your team whenever you meet a new benchmark or maintain your standards. Use platforms like company blogs, newsletters, and social media to keep your stakeholders informed.
Most of all, advertise your employer seal. Put it prominently on your company’s website, include it on your products, and feature it as part of job listings. You want your hard work to be noticed.
Boost Your Brand with an Employer Seal
Employers are now awake to the competitiveness of the labor market. As the Great Resignation illustrated, companies must consistently strive to offer an environment where employees feel valued, satisfied, and motivated.
Hiring and retaining the best talent is as much about your workplace practices as it is about recognition. No matter how much work you put into maintaining exceptional standards in the work environment, why bother if your future employees don’t know about it?
Earn an employer seal and stand out from your competition. It’s not just a seal of approval but a tool to assure stakeholders and candidates alike of the brand’s steadfast dedication to excellence.
Learn more about employer branding the influence of qualitty seals / seals of approval.
Sources:
- https://www.easier.com/141861-what-is-an-employer-seal-and-what-advantages-does-it-offer.html
- https://www.usiq.org/everything-you-need-to-know-about-employer-seals/
- https://www.usiq.org
