During the recent Ag & Food HR Roundtable held in Urbandale, Iowa at the DuPont Pioneer headquarters, several sessions were held on total rewards programs. As the ag industry gets more competitive, employers are discovering that the same old, same old rewards programs are not working. During Engaging Multiple Generations in the Workplace Through Rewards Programs, presenters Tim Glowa and Richard Kantor with Aon Hewitt discussed what excites and motivates the different generations to be the most productive in the workplace – and it’s not always what you think.

During the session, Glowa and Kantor reviewed recent research that showed what types of rewards and incentives were favored by the different generations and also discussed some companies that have had huge success with their rewards programs, such as Google.

On the same day, AgCareers.com, the host of the roundtable, also released results of its Total Rewards Insights for Multiple Generations. The survey was taken in the spring of 2013 and is aimed at helping the ag industry develop stronger benefit and incentive packages for employees. To learn more I spoke with Kristen Fauken, who oversaw the survey.

Fauken said the two important factors that affected overall performance across generations were the company’s social responsibility initiatives as well as the company’s efforts toward innovation and advancement. Other valued rewards and benefits included health care benefits, retirement savings plans, paid time off, challenging and meaningful work and professional development and learning opportunities.

You can learn more about the AgCareers.com total rewards survey by listening to my interview with Kristen Fauken: AgCareers.com Total Rewards Survey

Visit the AgCareers.com Ag & Food HR Roundtable photo album.