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The secrets of staffing up in an ‘understaffed’ industry

Welcome back to our Workplace newsletter where we share the latest tips, tools and insights to help you stay informed about the modern tech office. Today: Solving the understaffing issue, salary transparency, and the state of mental health at work.
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—Amber Burton, Reporter (twitter | email)
It's been another week where Facebook took over a chunk of the news cycle. I myself (and all my good friends on Twitter) spent a significant amount of time dissecting every morsel of information offered by whistleblower Frances Haugen about the inner workings of the social platform. But of all of the statements published over and over again, what stood out to me was the workplace issue at the heart of it all. Haugen shared that Facebook faces a vicious cycle of understaffing and the resulting problems that ensue. According to Haugen:
Facebook aside, the challenge of securing and retaining enough good tech talent in the industry is far from new. It's only become more critical during the pandemic. In fact, some companies wouldn't call the problem understaffing at all — it's a downright scramble for talent.
Protocol spoke with two companies that focus on growth to ask how they're staffing up and retaining top tech talent right now. They also shared strategies that have made hiring just a little bit easier in a competitive labor market.
Leading with purpose and a strong mission is the strategy at Honor Technology, Inc., a tech platform that connects families to senior care professionals. The company recently secured $370 million in financing and is in the midst of staffing up its technical teams. Co-founder and CEO Seth Sternberg said he's noticed more people in tech seeking work with a higher social impact.
Payroll, HR and benefits platform Gusto also focuses on mission in its interview process. Gusto conducts a "values and motivations" interview with every candidate, ranging from entry level to board of directors.
Gusto also recommends meeting employees where they are with authenticity and alignment.
Last, providing benefits that employees actually want and need. Yeargin told Protocol that this is a way Gusto empowers its employees to be their best selves and do their best work.
Even though the gender pay gap in tech is well documented and well known (men in tech still make 3% more on average than women), pay discussion among colleagues remains taboo for some. The difference in who shares their salary and who doesn't is often generational — 50% of millennials, compared to 41% of older generations, said they believe it's important to talk openly about finances, according to a 2020 report by Klarna. Not only is salary transparency generational, but it can be gendered as well. Women have been known to share their salaries with each other through whisper networks. But sharing with other women can only be so helpful when they are also being underpaid, software engineer Lauren Hasson to'd Protocol. Many women have found when men speak up and share how much they make it can cause real change.
Read the full story here and follow Protocol's Salary Series for more stories about what happens when workers in tech start sharing their compensation.
Create a more confident workplace with Envoy's proof of vaccination. Comply with federal mandates and provide a work environment that employees trust to keep them safe. Employees upload proof of vaccination for a company admin to verify before they arrive on-site.
This week's testimony from Facebook's whistleblower spotlighted the effectiveness of working with a whistleblower agency to develop a concrete plan. The risk of calling out a company and bringing it to account comes with so much complexity, and it might not be the right choice for everyone. For this reason, several whistleblower support agencies, alongside Pinterest whistleblower Ifeoma Ozoma, have developed a site called "The Tech Worker Handbook."
Oct. 10 marks World Mental Health Day, and for people in the corporate world it's a time when companies launch new wellness initiatives and take stock of how their employees are faring. Earlier this year, research firm Forrester took a closer look at the impact of these workplace wellness initiatives. The report, which surveyed both leadership and employees, found the amount of perceived support did not match up.
Create a more confident workplace with Envoy's proof of vaccination. Comply with federal mandates and provide a work environment that employees trust to keep them safe. Employees upload proof of vaccination for a company admin to verify before they arrive on-site.
A roundup of workplace news from the farthest corners of the internet.
Thoughts, questions, tips? Send them to workplace@protocol.com. Have a great weekend, see you Tuesday.
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