What is the ROI your Organization Offers for your Time?

Have you ever pondered, what is the ROI your Organization Offers for your Time? Apart from good salary organizations compensate, does it acknowledge the invaluable time you invest with them with a ROI? Are you receiving, or anticipating, a return on investment for the time you dedicate to the organization?

Is Good Salary Enough? then stop reading

Today, with organizations still implementing a three-month notice period, securing a competitive salary is relatively straightforward for employees. They can resign and receive 10-20 offers, ultimately choosing the highest bidder—a luxury unimaginable just a decade ago.

If you’re solely seeking a good salary without any other considerations from an organization, this blog may not be for you.

A few years ago, following the closure of my startup, I faced a decision: I had the option to join a well-established product-based startup, backed by funding and already dominant in the Indian market. The role offered was that of an Engineering Lead, with the potential for advancement to a managerial position.

Conversely, I also received an offer from a services company, which presented an opportunity for a customer-facing role.

It goes without saying that the product-based startup offered me a salary that was 50% higher than what the services company proposed, along with additional perks. Despite considerable deliberation, I ultimately chose the services company based solely on my intuition.

Pandemic Impact

Fast forward a couple of years, the product-based company suffered severe setbacks due to the pandemic, resulting in mass layoffs, including engineering managers and leads. This situation prompted me to ponder: What if I had invested my time with the product company? Perhaps I would have faced challenges in rebuilding my reputation in a new company, essentially losing valuable time. The return on time invested would have amounted to zero with the startup, despite the potentially higher earnings compared to the services company.

At present, securing a competitive salary is as simple as uploading your CV, navigating through opportunities, acing interviews, and advancing in your career. Alternatively, some newcomers in the industry opt to switch companies frequently, sometimes hopping through five different companies in just four years, only to attribute instability to the companies themselves.

Want to Maximize ROI?

What strategies can you employ to maximize your Return on Investment (ROI) from an organization, beyond receiving a market salary?

Work – Life Balance

The most valuable return on investment your organization can offer is achieving a healthy work-life balance. While organizations naturally set and pursue targets, this doesn’t preclude the possibility of fostering work-life balance. It could be as straightforward as enabling remote work and trusting employees to fulfill their responsibilities to meet deadlines.

Freedom to Fail

If the fear of termination looms over every mistake, the return on investment diminishes. Technological solutions are akin to creative artwork, such as paintings or performing arts. Like painters or performers, technologists often encounter failures, yet when success strikes, it can be life changing. Cultivating an environment where calculated risks are encouraged, and failure is not met with severe repercussions yields a favorable ROI for innovative individuals.

Time to Upskill Yourself

With the rapid launch of new technologies, frameworks, and products, the demand for skills evolves swiftly, often changing within months if not yearly. Prioritizing time for upskilling not only ensures personal relevance in the industry but also keeps the organization ahead of the curve. Recognizing and supporting the importance of continuous learning within an organization constitutes a vital aspect of the ROI professionals should seek.

Platform to build your Individual Profile

While some companies cultivate leaders who advance to CEO and other prominent positions within the industry, many fail to do so. Providing a platform for personal growth while leading the organization can prove advantageous for both the individual and the company. Any organization capable of fostering such development offers an unparalleled ROI not found elsewhere.

Many leading companies excel and innovate, in part due to a culture that offers these benefits to employees.

So ask yourself, what is the ROI your Organization Offers for your Time? Apart from good salary organizations compensate, does it acknowledge the invaluable time you invest with them with a ROI?

Conclusion

In conclusion, during a period where securing new employment and salary increases are relatively accessible due to notice periods and abundant job opportunities, organizations must prioritize offering diverse forms of ROI to employees. This ensures that they receive returns for their time investment, which is arguably our most valuable asset.

What other returns on investment (ROI) do you anticipate from an organization? Your insights are welcomed.