Watch out for employer of choice battles

This horrible phrase (already clogging up the chairman's statement in far too many annual reports ) is set, sadly, to get top billing in the business lexicons. Wanting to be an employer of choice usually means you have a problem and need to fix it - FAST. Those that really are employers of choice - unless they are incredibly smug - don't talk about it, they just are. However, real-life employers of choice (wherever in the world they are) do have several things in common that we would do well to recognise:

A recognised and organised formal life/work balance programme that meets needs across the business.
Professional and personal development opportunities for all.
The ability to make a contribution to the firm tied to personal responsibility.
A friendly and culturally rich environment (˜being with others I can relate to'), that nurtures and then maximises potential.
A business that is responsible to the community as a whole (this plays strongly to the lifestyle/workstyle employees ' need to contribute to more than just a job).