Theiss, McNab and others offer $10,000 sign-on bonuses to lure workers

Some desperate employers are stumping up $10,000 in sign-on bonuses and more if you refer a mate as the battle to find workers intensifies. See what’s on offer.

Some of Queensland’s biggest business names are digging deep to recruit workers offering sign-on bonuses and even ‘refer a mate’ incentives.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars are on offer as labour shortages bite across mining, constructions and trade sectors.

Australia’s unemployment rate has fallen to 3.5 per cent and according to recruitment giant Hays’ latest salary guide, 91 per cent of employers are experiencing a skills shortage.

This has seen one of Queensland’s biggest private builders McNab offering a $10,000 ‘Welcome Bonus’ to potential employees who apply for ‘priority roles’ before the end of August.

These roles include construction manager, foreman and safety advisor and are all eligible for the $10,000 welcome bonus while other current vacancies are eligible for a $2000 welcome bonus.

Queensland construction company McNab is offering a $10,000 sign-on bonus. Picture: LinkedIn

McNab general manager of marketing and sales Steve Kelk said the company, that started in Toowoomba in 1996, prided itself in “thinking outside the square”.

“The offer of a $10,000 start bonus is testament to just that – it’s generated great interest, and it’s provided us with an opportunity to share the McNab philosophy and our culture of doing things differently,” he said.

“It’s certainly been a great conversation starter and has resulted in us being able to sit down to talk about the exciting work we have coming up and making sure we share a set of common values.

“The key sell to candidates is about working somewhere that does exciting work, but also has a sense of purpose and genuine care for others – we all have each other’s back. The sign-on bonus is just the icing on the cake and us trying something different.”

Mining services company Theiss which has offered a $10,000 sign-on bonus with a $5000 “refer a mate bonus for experienced truck, multi skilled and excavator operators.

Other businesses offering sign-on incentives include mining services company Theiss which has offered a $10,000 sign-on bonus with a $5000 ‘refer a mate bonus’ for experienced truck, multi skilled and excavator operators who can start immediately at the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance open cut coking coal mine at Caval Ridge in Moranbah in central Queensland.

Also, Sunshine Coast plumbing and civil works business Peak Group is offering a range of sign-on bonuses from $10,000 for a pipe layer foreman, to $5000 for an excavator operator to $1000 for an administrator.

While trade specialists Fallon Solutions is offering a $5000 sign-on bonus for electrician and airconditioning technicians. Other companies offering sign-on bonuses include Boiso’s Electrical Services, BT Plumbing and Gas, Star Pharmacy Group and Royal Wolf Shipping Containers.

Hays Queensland managing director Darren Buchanan said sign-on bonuses were only offered in the most acute areas of skills shortages.

“Even then, this is far from a universal trend,” he said. “There have been instances where job candidates accepted a sign-on bonus, then left a few months later, so this hasn’t proven to be a reliable attraction strategy,” he said.

Mr Buchanan said in a tight labour market employers need a solid attraction plan – competitive salary, flexibility, upskilling opportunities, career progression, and purpose, health and wellbeing support – to stand out as their preferred candidate’s first choice.

Sign-on bonuses only offered to the acute areas of skills shortages.

He said in general, training and more than 20 days’ annual leave are the top two benefits employees wanted.

“But while 81 per cent of employers offer the former, only 23 per cent offer additional annual leave, which presents a competitive advantage for any employer looking to create a standout offer,” Mr Buchanan said.

“For positions that can be completed flexibly, almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of employees say they’ll look for a role offering an adaptive hybrid approach when they next job search.

“This consists of a flexible schedule rather than set in-office and remote days. Over half want the scope to change work hours outside of core business times and one-third want compressed working weeks.”

Fast food chain Guzman y Gomez is currently seeking 270 new employees in Queensland and offers other incentives over a sign-on bonus.

“Once of the reasons we see so many people switching to GYG is our flexible hours, we have so many mum’s now working school hours,” a spokesman said.

“We provide our crew with the skills to follow their career passions that lead to different roles within the business.

“We’ve had franchisees who started as crew and other team members who started their career in restaurants and are now part of our learning and development team in our head office.”

Guzman y Gomez wants 270 new employees in Queensland.

McDonald’s which currently has 2000 jobs available at its restaurants in Queensland ranging from full time, part time and casual roles across management, crew, barista and maintenance.

“Our restaurants are actively hiring and looking for people of all ages and experience levels to embark on a career with McDonald’s,” a spokeswoman said.

“McDonald’s offers flexible working hours and outstanding training and development initiatives, including the opportunity for employees to pursue externally recognised qualifications in the retail, hospitality and food service industries.

“As individual business owners, McDonald’s franchisees may choose to offer additional incentives to recruit people, including sign-on bonuses.”