In most cases, it appears that money still talks loudest. But big bucks may not lure people away from jobs they like. He turned it down because the job had less responsibility than his current position as IT director of a smaller firm. But most of these people don't quite know what such a position entails. The special benefit was that the California company offered, for the first time, to let a prospective employee telecommute full time in this case from Ohio.
Training is another noncash benefit being used in hiring.
However, new employees have to sign a contract stating that if they stay for less than two years, they will reimburse the city for the cost of training they received. Amaral predicts companies will give more weight to noncash incentives this year, particularly time off. He sees less potential in offering prospective employees telecommuting arrangements. He says it's a practical move, not just an effort to save money on high contractor fees. The skills we've been contracting for are those we need to continue to have.