Attracting and Retaining Top Talent in a Changing HR Landscape

Alison Francis, Chief Diversity Officer, Costco

Alison Francis, chief diversity officer at Costco, aims to create a space where all employee concerns are addressed and taken care of. She has carved a niche for herself over the last two decades by working across multiple departments at Costco and gaining valuable insights from each role. 

In an interview with HR Tech Outlook, Francis talks about the challenges existing in human resource management and how industries can deal with them.

Can you explain your career journey and your roles and responsibilities at Costco?

I’ve worked at Costco for over 25 years, mostly in operations. I started as a cashier assistant at the Issaquah Costco.  I worked my way through various management roles and was promoted to being a warehouse manager in 2012.  In that role I was in charge of managing profit and loss (P&L) for the location and oversaw operations for all departments within the warehouseincluding: pharmacy, optical and hearing aid, fresh foods, and more. Following that, I worked as a regional administration manager in the northeast region for over a year, where I was responsible for the administrative functions for 97 regional locations. These functions included environmental compliance, construction for new locations, remodels, equipment, fiscal budgeting and human resources. I assumed my present role as the chief diversity officer in March of 2022. Before becoming a CDO, I completed my master's degree in human resources with an emphasis in Diversity and Inclusion from Georgetown University in December 2021.

What are some of the challenges currently existing in the marketplace?

Hiring talented professionals is a challenge that all organizations are facing. Often, organizations compete for the same group of people, and retaining the workforce can be more challenging than attracting new hires.

“It’s going to be critical for organizations to identify how they will attract and retain talent. Employers should focus on communicating the values of their organizations and their commitments to their employees. “

What are the trends making an impact in the industry at present?

Employee attitudes toward work have altered after the pandemic, and their priorities are changing. People now prefer jobs where they can strike a balance between their work and family life simultaneously.  With this recent shift it is a lot more common for people to switch job roles more frequently as they are looking for better work life integration.

What was an approach you embraced to ensure the success of a project you worked on?

We developed a Talent Management tool to help leaders have a clearer picture of how we were hiring, developing and retaining employees.  Data can capture the opportunities, possibilities, and general trends we may fail to notice otherwise. This tool has helped our Warehouse Managers obtain valuable insightsinto how they can best support employees working in their locations.

How do you envision the future of the industry in the coming years?

It’s going to be critical for organizations to identify how they will attract and retain talent. Employers should focus on communicating the values of their organizations and their commitments to their employees.  All employees should have a clear idea of why their organization is an excellent place to work, grow and thrive.  Listening to and taking care of employees has to be a top priority for organizations.  Companies that can adapt to these changes will thrive, and those that lack a good work culture will face a myriad of challenges.

What is your advice for the young professionals in the field?

For anyone venturing into the HR field, it's extremely important to understand the organization you work for and its operations. That will help you bring innovative programs to the table and add value to your organization. It is also important to build relationship within your organization with leaders in different departments.   Doing so creates a foundation for support and this is vital in order to be successful.

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