Creative Perks to Lure — and Keep — Top Talent

The technology sector has been one of the few bright spots within the otherwise anemic U.S. job market. In fact, tech businesses are so keen on staffing some difficult-to-fill positions that they are layering on the perks in the hope of enticing the best and brightest to their ranks.

These enticements range from the sublime to the nearly ridiculous in companies’ efforts to find software engineers, computer programmers and other information-technology (IT) jobs.

Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith claims that finding IT talent remains a “serious challenge”. In May 2011 the software giant had about 2,600 computer science jobs that could not be filled because of a lack of qualified applicants, Smith notes.

But it is not only attracting talent that keeps companies looking for new ways to make the workplace a better place. The cost of hiring a new employee averages about $3,250, according to data compiled by the Society for Human Resource Management, so retaining top-performing employees is also key.