COMP News – As the working world grows more competitive with its top talent, companies are raising the stakes by raising employee benefits in a bid to retain the best. Some trendsetting organizations, such as Amazon and United Airlines, give employees large sign-on bonuses. Others are trying new strategies, like tech company SevenRooms, who is offering its new employees a PTO bargain – their first two weeks spent in paid time off with benefits.

To help attract people to come work for a tech platform whose customers are restaurant and hospitality companies—both industries hit hard by the pandemic—SevenRooms chief people officer Paul McCarthy knew he had to think outside the box. 

Paul Mcarthy then implemented a new program called the “Fresh Start” program. This new employee PTO plan is novel in that the 14 days given are spent right at the start of employment.

So McCarthy decided to try something a little different: Having all new employees take their first two weeks off, providing pay and benefits while setting their official start date 14 days before they begin doing real work. The “Fresh Start” program is, in one sense, a twist on a sign-on bonus—but one that also underscores its commitment to employees’ time. 

In lieu of new employee PTO, Amazon and United Airlines have implemented sign-on bonuses of up to $10,000 to try and attract and retain talent.

United Airlines is advertising for jobs such as part-time ramp agents or baggage handlers in Denver that offer $10,000 sign-on bonuses, issued in monthly increments that require a year of service.

Amazon has offered $3,000 signing bonuses to warehouse workers—and in February, more than doubled its maximum base pay to $350,000 for corporate and tech employees, citing “the need to remain competitive for attracting and retaining top talent,” according to Bloomberg. 

Employers are being forced to find new ways to attract and retain talent. While large companies like Amazon and United Airlines are trying more traditional approaches such as sign-on bonuses, some employers like Paul Mcarthy are trying more creative approaches like the “Fresh Start” Program.

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