Leveraging HR Services to Overcome Workplace Challenges: The Value of Participating in Benchmarking Surveys
Organizations are facing growing recruiting and retention challenges, including limited candidate pools, turnover, absenteeism, problematic team dynamics, and performance issues. These challenges reduce engagement and productivity and create a strain on managers and teams, leading to increasing costs. The good news is that this creates an opportunity for companies to turn this around. Organizations that have been able to turn this around were willing to look at their current practices, assess where changes were needed, invest in their people, and make data-informed decisions. This not only stabilized their workforce, but built stronger, more resilient teams.
A critical starting point is understanding how your organization compares to the market. Benchmarking data provides that insight, showing how your company stacks up in areas such as health plan and benefits offerings, cost management strategies, pay adjustments, and overall practices. Without this insight, companies risk making decisions based on assumptions rather than data. With it, leaders can identify gaps, strengthen the case for change, and focus on strategies that improve competitiveness and employee attraction.
To assist companies with obtaining this important data, in mid-June, HR contacts in Corporate and Partner-level member companies were sent an email invitation with a link to sign up for our Q3 benchmarking surveys as a benefit of Greater Rochester Chamber membership. There is no cost to participate and all participants will receive a complimentary copy of the aggregate results when released (membership must be current). Individual data is never reported and remains confidential. The 2026 Health Benefits Survey (covers health and dental benefits) will begin the week of July 6, followed by the 2026 Pay Trends Survey (gathers data on pay increases) the week of July 13, the 2027 Holiday Closings Survey (paid holiday observances) the week of August 3, and the 2027 Local & National Benefits Survey the week of September 14.
Participation in one or all of these surveys, or our other benchmarking surveys, gives organizations a valuable advantage by providing access to timely, relevant benchmarking data and insight into how other employers are approaching benefits decisions, enabling more informed choices, helping anticipate market shifts, and supporting a proactive approach to staying competitive. If you have any questions, or if you would like to sign up for our Q3 Surveys, or request a copy of last year's survey results, please contact our HR Services team: Jennifer Suppe', Manager, Organizational Culture and HR Services, (585) 256-4608, Cindy Miller, HR Services Partner, (585) 256-4606, and Kathy Richmond, Sr. Director, HR Services, (585) 256-4618.
Stay tuned for upcoming articles highlighting opportunities to leverage HR Services to overcome workplace challenges.