McLean & Company, one of the world’s leading HR research and advisory firms, has published a new research snapshot highlighting the importance of having a strong employee value proposition (EVP) in an increasingly competitive labor landscape. The firm notes that organizations with a strong EVP are better at generating new ideas, enabling workforce productivity, and fostering a sense of purpose for employees in their day-to-day work.
TORONTO, Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – To compete for and retain talent in an uncertain economy and labor market, organizations must showcase the unique and positive components of their employee experience, according to global HR research & advisory firm McLean & Company. Noting that only 22% of organizations report they have an employee value proposition (EVP), the firm provides a short, consumable overview of key points from the full Uncover the Employee Value Proposition resource in a newly published research snapshot. Without a defined and articulated EVP, many organizations risk leaving a host of benefits, such as the ability to innovate, increased productivity, and having more fulfilled employees, on the table. Such benefits cannot be overlooked as HR leaders continue to be challenged by retaining employees and controlling labor costs in 2025, as highlighted in McLean & Company’s HR Trends Report 2025 preview.
McLean & Company’s research snapshot emphasizes that a powerful EVP needs to resonate externally to attract talent by targeting the right candidates to join the organization, while those who are not a good fit will self-select out. Equally as important, the firm advises that the EVP must also resonate internally to retain existing and new talent by ensuring that new hires’ expectations are met and that the EVP is experienced throughout the organization.
“A strong EVP provides a compelling but realistic view of the benefits of joining the organization while also leading to a connection that encourages employees to stay,” says Elysca Fernandes, director, HR Research & Advisory Services at McLean & Company. “However, it is important to note that an overly aspirational EVP creates a disconnect with employees because they won’t recognize it as their lived experience. Additionally, neglecting to look externally at what competitors are doing will result in an undifferentiated EVP, and in a competitive talent market, organizations need to stand out.”
The EVP research snapshot highlights several key findings from McLean & Company, pointing to the following benefits for organizations that define and articulate a strong EVP.
- Organizations with an EVP are 1.18 times more likely to report higher overall organizational performance, 1.16 times more likely to report high innovation/ability to generate new ideas, and 1.14 times more likely to report high workforce productivity than those without an EVP.
- Employees at organizations with an EVP are 1.23 times more likely to report a feeling of purpose in their day-to-day work than those at organizations without an EVP.
For HR and organizational leaders seeking to achieve the benefits of having an articulated, powerful EVP, McLean & Company has outlined its four-step process below.
- Step 1: Build a plan to develop the EVP by identifying goals, metrics, and a project team for the development of the EVP using insights from focus groups and existing employee surveys.
- Step 2: Uncover the EVP through the collection and analysis of data to identify EVP themes and draft the EVP statements before tailoring for key employee segments.
- Step 3: Evaluate and refine the EVP to ensure it is accurate, unique, and aligned, then plan for EVP road testing.
- Step 4: Launch and sustain the EVP through sharing the EVP with internal and external audiences using a communications plan, EVP marketing, and branding, then plan to sustain it over time.
For examples of what other organizations are doing regarding EVPs, please visit McLean & Company’s Case Studies: Uncover the Employee Value Proposition.
Additional McLean & Company tools to support the four-step EVP process include:
- Employee Value Proposition Workbook
- Employer Brand Ideas Catalog
- EVP Communication Guide Template
- EVP Examples Catalog
- EVP Launch Presentation Template
- EVP Launch Workbook
- EVP Scorecard
- EVP Senior Leadership Buy-In Presentation Template
To access the research snapshot or to explore the full resource, please visit Uncover the Employee Value Proposition.
To learn more about an easy, cost-effective way to accelerate an EVP development project through McLean & Company’s Uncover the Employee Value Proposition workshop, please visit the official workshop page.
To register for McLean & Company’s free upcoming webinar inspired by the firm’s HR Trends Report 2025, please visit the registration page for January 16 at 1 PM ET or the registration page for January 23 at 1 PM ET.
Media interested in connecting with McLean & Company analysts for exclusive, research-backed insights and commentary on HR Trends in 2025, HR’s critical role in digital transformation, the future of work, and more can contact Senior Communications Manager Kelsey King at kking@mcleanco.com.
About McLean & Company
McLean & Company pairs evidence-based research and immediately applicable tools with deep HR expertise to position organizations to meet today’s needs and prepare for the future. The global HR research and advisory firm’s member organizations enjoy comprehensive resources, full-service diagnostics, workshops, action plans, and advisory services for all levels of HR professionals, from executive leadership to HR leaders to HR team members, that help shape workplaces where everyone thrives.
McLean & Company is a division of Info-Tech Research Group.
Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact kking@mcleanco.com.
SOURCE McLean & Company