According to a new survey, employers are using bonuses to attract job candidates and reward employees who refer potential hires. Among the findings:
- More than half (52%) of employers say they have offered sign-on bonuses to attract job candidates during the past year.
- The sign-on bonus is most common (offered by 79% of responding companies). However, other employers say they have used referral, spot, and retention bonuses; and 7% say they haven’t used any bonus program.
- Just 2% of organizations say they have offered a higher referral bonus for job applicants from under-represented groups.
At the same time, worker advocates say that salary increases are the solution to employers’ talent woes.