The Tier4 Group Times: Volume 1, Issue 7

What's new at Tier4 Group?

We are thrilled to announce that Tier4 Group has been named one of Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2024 Best Places To Work! This marks our second time being recognized for this incredible achievement, and we couldn't be more proud.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle's Best Places To Work award honors companies that go above and beyond to foster a positive and productive workplace. This recognition is based on employee feedback, emphasizing workplace culture, employee engagement, and overall job satisfaction. Being included in this prestigious list is a testament to our commitment to creating an outstanding work environment.

Our company is only as good as its employees, and it is thanks to our incredible team that we have been able to foster such an inclusive and supportive environment. Your dedication, passion, and commitment are what make Tier4 Group truly exceptional. Every day, you contribute to a culture that values collaboration, innovation, and respect, and for that, we are immensely grateful.

Thank you to our amazing team for making this possible! Let's continue to create a workplace where everyone can thrive, and let's keep setting the standard for excellence in our industry.

How Your PTO Package Could Be Hurting Your Retention Rate and Ability to Gain New Hires

In the wake of the Great Resignation, companies continue to grapple with high turnover rates. Employees are not just leaving for better pay; a significant number are resigning due to poor benefits, particularly inadequate Paid Time Off (PTO) packages.

The Impact of Poor PTO on Employee Retention and Hiring

A recent study by Pew Research found that 43% of people who resigned in 2021 left due to poor benefits. While many sought better healthcare, a significant portion left in search of more generous PTO. This trend is hardly surprising given that the COVID-19 pandemic brought work-life balance to the forefront, forcing employees to reevaluate how work fits into their lives.

According to a report by Glassdoor, about 15% of job seekers have declined a job offer because the PTO package was not competitive. Another study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) indicated that companies with robust PTO policies have a 25% lower turnover rate compared to those with less generous policies. These statistics highlight the critical role PTO plays in both retaining current employees and attracting new talent.

The Makings of a Quality PTO Program

Traditional PTO policies typically include specific allotments for vacation time, sick days, personal days, and holidays. However, a quality PTO program should offer flexibility, allowing employees to take time off without financial penalty. This flexibility not only enhances overall productivity but also fosters a culture of honesty and openness, helping employers plan for absences more efficiently.

Eight Ways to Improve Your PTO Package

1. Switch to Unlimited PTO: Research shows that employees with unlimited PTO policies often take less time off than those with fixed vacation days. Unlimited PTO encourages employees to take necessary breaks, reducing burnout and enhancing productivity.
2. Offer Unlimited Sick Days: The pandemic has increased awareness of health and wellness in the workplace. Offering unlimited sick days can reduce presenteeism (when employees work despite being sick) and show employees that their health is a priority.
3. Increase Vacation Time with Tenure: Companies like Google and Apple offer additional PTO based on seniority, with increases at 3, 5, and 10 years. This strategy is effective for retaining experienced employees.
4. Introduce Floating Holidays: Allow employees to take a paid day off of their choosing, such as their birthday. This flexibility can make your PTO policy more appealing.
5. Create a Buy-Sell Program: Offer employees the option to buy and sell vacation days. This customizable benefit can have tax advantages and promote work-life balance.
6. Allow PTO Carryover: Permit employees to carry over unused PTO to the next year. If unlimited carryover is not feasible, consider capping the amount or allowing employees to donate unused PTO.
7. Promote Company Holidays: Highlight company holidays in your PTO policy and job listings. This can signal the robustness of your PTO policy to potential hires.
8. Offer Volunteer Days: Provide paid time off for employees to volunteer. This not only boosts your PTO plan but also fosters team camaraderie and aligns with employees’ desires to find purpose in their work.

A well-structured PTO package is essential for both retaining current employees and attracting new hires. By offering flexible and generous PTO options, companies can reduce turnover rates, boost employee satisfaction, and become more competitive in the job market. Implementing these eight strategies can significantly enhance your PTO policy, making your company a more attractive place to work.

What do you do here at Tier4??

I am a senior recruiter at Tier4 Group. My job is all about matching top talent to the best jobs with some of the best companies in the world!

Tell me a little about yourself!?

I am married (24 years this December), mother of 2 adult boys, and have been recruiting for over 20 years. One of my favorite things to do is to hang with my rescue dog Matzo, and if I am not there I can typically be found at the gym doing CrossFit. I am passionate about adoption and foster care and volunteer a lot of my time to Faithbridge Foster care. My alma mater is Kennesaw State University, but I watch a lot of Georgia football, and the Atlanta Braves are my team and have been since the 80’s. Lastly, I am a life long blockhead (New Kids on the Block), about to attend my 8th concert this month! ??

What is your biggest success story you’re most proud of??

Taking care of 21 foster kids over an 8 year span and adopting my precious boys out of foster care. I would do that a thousand times over! ??

What is a favorite memory you have since being with the Tier4 team?

9 years ago when Betsy called me and asked if I would be willing to help her with a few accounts for a month or so. I never would have thought this would have turned into the best, full-time, gig of my career!

Why Smaller Could Be Better – Boutique Executive Search Firms

When you’re searching for your next exceptional leader to take you into the future of your business, the allure of partnering with a big-name search firm is tempting. Sure, their scale and content output are impressive, but is bigger always better? Small boutique executive search firms like Retained offer distinct advantages that could give you an edge in recruitment. Deciding the type of search firm you will use for an executive search is a big decision, but a small boutique executive search firm could be the best fit. We’ll explore how small boutique executive search firms can provide the edge.

Leadership Expertise

One of the biggest benefits of working with a smaller firm is that you’ll work alongside proven leaders with years of experience who have been in your shoes and know your needs. At Retained, our leaders will be involved in every step of the process, from the first call until a candidate’s placement. This ensures you get the attention and the level of expertise you deserve.

A Relationship-first Approach

When you partner with a boutique search firm, you can forge a close relationship with leadership who come alongside you to execute the search. During the process, you have greater access to leadership, benefit from their strong networks, and, as a result, are better positioned for success.

When you partner with Retained, for instance, we become an extension of your organization, guaranteeing the highest level of discretion and confidentiality. The relationship goes beyond the now; we work to ensure our clients are positioned for future success, and we maintain relationships beyond the initial search to support our clients and their continuous growth.

Going Beyond Qualifications ?

Large search firms may utilize standardized processes to assess your needs and the qualifications you desire in your candidate. However, small boutique firms can go much deeper, working alongside you to understand the leadership landscape within your organization and your culture on a profoundly personal level. A Better understanding of these areas will result in the perfect fit to enhance your team and help you reach your objectives better. Knowing the client’s culture intimately also enables a more seamless transition for the leader. Our experts can coach the candidates throughout the process, preparing them to enter the role with confidence.

Specialization

When needing a search, tailoring your choice of a partner can make a world of difference. For instance, hiring a small boutique search firm specializing in the technology sector can offer you a boost if you are seeking a ?Chief Information Officer or a Chief Technology Officer. Firms that specialize in a specific industry know it inside and out, and their networks often enable them to pull together a diverse pool of candidates.

At Retained, we source senior technology executives, C-suite, nonprofit, and fractional/interim executives. By specializing in these types of searches, we can put forth the optimal pool of candidates that best fit your needs. Tino Mantella, President & Managing Partner at Retained, led the largest tech trade association in North America for over a decade. His tenure not only enabled him to connect directly with hundreds of tech leaders, but he also developed an intimate knowledge of the requirements to be the best in various tech roles.

Innovation

Boutique search firms can innovate quickly without going through a maze of bureaucracy to secure approvals. While large firms have many resources, they are not as agile or flexible due to their size. Boutique firms combine innovative search strategies with robust tools and technology to ensure a successful search. A smaller firm can improve and optimize more quickly. Despite fewer resources, a more limited number of searches allows for a greater focus and allocation of resources to your account, proving to be more effective.

Bigger Isn’t Always Better

When choosing a trusted partner to find your next leader, bigger isn’t always better. While there may be some advantages to a large firm, small boutique search firms like Retained are positioned to give you a unique edge in talent acquisition. Their tailored and personalized approach, deep industry knowledge, and leadership expertise can be the difference maker in finding the perfect fit the first time. This is why you can trust boutique firms like Retained to get the job done right.

Check out our current hottest roles:

Senior Manager of Product Engineering

Reston, VA - Hybrid

The Senior Manager of Product Engineering leads the product engineering function, overseeing a portfolio of business applications across multiple teams to ensure consistent performance and support of business activities. This role involves establishing an agile software engineering practice, modernizing technology platforms, and driving technical architecture decisions to enhance system reliability and efficiency. The Manager will recruit, mentor, and lead a team of Application Development Managers and Software Engineers, ensuring the delivery of mission-critical projects.

This role stands out by allowing the Manager to be instrumental in changing the culture for faster performance, engage in strategic planning for new technologies, and lead a competent team. Offering a generous compensation package, a hybrid commute, and the chance to restructure the company, this position is ideal for a thought leader and big-picture thinker looking to drive significant modernization projects and mission-critical applications.

Senior Project Manager

Atlanta, GA - Hybrid - Contract Role

We are seeking a dynamic Senior Project Manager to lead high-visibility Salesforce-related projects, enhancing customer experience within a SAFe Agile environment. This contract role offers competitive hourly rates and involves delivering complex, enterprise projects on time and within budget. The ideal candidate has extensive experience managing vendors, navigating heavily regulated data projects, and is known for getting things done efficiently.

Key responsibilities include managing third-party vendors, creating and executing project plans, evaluating trade-offs, and ensuring compliance with company project methodologies. The candidate should have over five years of experience managing impactful enterprise projects, possess strong team leadership skills, and be proficient in project management tools like Visio and MS Project. Experience in highly regulated industries and PMI certification are preferred. Strong communication, collaboration, and risk management skills are essential, with insurance industry experience being a plus.

Senior Project Manager

Atlanta, GA - Hybrid - Contract Role

We are seeking a Senior Project Manager with a proven track record of delivering complex, enterprise projects on time and within budget. Known for being the best in their field, the ideal candidate will excel in managing vendors and heavily regulated data projects. This contract role offers competitive hourly rates and involves working on a highly visible project for the organization.

The Project Manager will oversee the success of all projects in the portfolio, ensuring timely, budget-conscious delivery within scope. Responsibilities include managing third-party vendors, creating project plans, evaluating trade-offs, and ensuring compliance with company standards. With over five years of experience in high-impact enterprise projects, the candidate should possess strong leadership, communication, and risk management skills. Familiarity with SAFe Agile, software development lifecycles, and project management tools is essential, with insurance industry experience being a plus.

Senior Manager, Business Applications

Atlanta, GA - Hybrid

We are seeking a dynamic Senior Manager of Business Applications to lead our technology initiatives, focusing on NetSuite, CRM solutions, data modernization, BI tools, EDI, and vendor management. This hybrid role, requiring three days a week in our Atlanta office, involves developing and implementing a strategic roadmap for business applications, overseeing NetSuite across various modules, and ensuring seamless integration with existing systems. The ideal candidate will have extensive expertise in data infrastructure modernization, BI tool adoption, and project management, with a strong background in ERP systems, particularly NetSuite.

Key responsibilities include strategic leadership, hands-on application management, vendor and contract management, and team development. The role demands a strategic thinker with strong analytical skills, excellent project management abilities, and the capability to inspire and manage a diverse team. A bachelor's degree in a related field and 5-10 years of experience in ERP systems, including at least three years of hands-on NetSuite experience, are required. Experience with BI tools, data warehouses, and EDI implementation is essential, along with proficiency in SQL and data modeling.

View a full list of open roles here!