Benefits Hold Sway

According to 42 percent of PMPs who participated in the PCT-NPMA survey, new hires viewed benefits equally important as wages.

PMPs in follow-up interviews said benefits were essential to retain employees and should appeal to workers in different life stages. “Somebody who’s a 22- or 23-year-old coming into the company today is probably going to have a different mindset of wants and needs than when he’s 28 or 29,” explained Jake Lazarus, Braman Termite & Pest Elimination. “There’s got to be some flexibility (in benefits) or people will just go somewhere else,” he said.

Sprague Pest Solutions pushes vendors to introduce new benefits. “I’m always challenging people about what’s the newest thing out there, what can we offer, how can we put ourselves in a different space, define ourselves that this is a unique benefit?” said Leila Haas. She also gets employee feedback, both informally and through surveys, to ensure new offerings are valued.

PMPs said benefits like medical, paid time off (PTO) and retirement savings are increasingly expected by employees. Other benefits can help companies stand apart from competitors both inside and outside the pest management industry.

In the past two years, 55 percent of PMPs said their companies added or improved at least one benefit to attract or retain full-time employees. This had a positive impact on company culture, said 39 percent.

In fact, a major benefit is a company’s family culture, said PMPs. “We play that card very aggressively,” said Bobby Jenkins, ABC Home & Commercial Services.

Angela Persinger promotes the family atmosphere at Rose Pest Solutions, a 161-year-old family business, when selling job candidates on the company and while onboarding new employees. “I think that’s what helps set us apart,” she said.