The Question: When international small and medium-sized businesses enter the U.S. market, they face numerous critical challenges. These include identifying and attracting the right talent, motivating them, and retaining them over time. In other words, the question is: what are the best ways to manage personnel in a country like the United States?
The Context: The labor market in the United States has always been much more flexible and dynamic than in Europe; people change jobs more quickly and more frequently. This represents a significant challenge for companies. In addition, in recent years, employer-employee relationships have become much more complicated due to new factors that have emerged. These factors include:
· Changes brought about by the pandemic, such as remote working.
· The increased use of technology, leading to digital transformation.
· A greater emphasis on social issues like work-life balance, diversity, equity and inclusion.
To make the context even more complex, there is a widespread shortage of labor in all sectors, leading to fierce competition among firms and significant wage growth.
The Answer: In my experience, both as a Corporate HR professional and as an HR Advisor, I have always considered building an ecosystem that considers, in an integrated way, the following factors:
· Communication – widespread and transparent
· Base pay – at least in line with the market
· Variable pay – simple commission and incentive plans
· Bonuses and incentives – targeted and effective
· Benefits – comprehensive and competitive
· Work environment – healthy, positive, and open
· Learning – programs dedicated to employee development
In summary, for an effective human resources attraction and retention policy, attention must be paid to both total compensation (base pay, variable pay, incentives, benefits) and the work environment (communication, environment, employee development, and management). This is necessary regardless of company size.
Are you interested to discuss in more details about your specific situation? Call me at +1-954-955-9447 or send an email at stefano.vetralla@inlay.it.
By Stefano Vetralla (INLAY USA – Managing Partner) (*)
(*) Stefano Vetralla, Managing Partner of INLAY USA, is a seasoned global HR Trusted Advisor with extensive experience in start-ups, mergers and acquisitions, HR transformation, and change management, he provides expert guidance to Boards and Executive Leadership Teams. His work centers on succession strategy, talent recruitment, assessment, and retention, with a particular focus on sourcing global leaders for international companies thriving in North America. In 2014, Stefano relocated to the USA to become EVP and Global Chief People Officer at KEMET Electronics, a global manufacturing leader. Before that, he held a series of progressively responsible international HR positions across EMEA, the Americas, and APAC at industry giants like Hewlett-Packard, 3Com Corporation, and Belgacom.