Something is in the air. It’s taken a pandemic to see it, but many companies are starting to realize that the mental health of their employees is an important factor in business profitability.
One way to support the overall well-being of employees is by offering a good work-life balance at a location which offers high livability standards. Temple has excelled at this for years and the city is only getting better, with redevelopment projects and multiple quality of life investments in the downtown area.
A laid back city with nightlife options for individuals and family friendly activities, it’s no wonder Temple has become a haven with a major draw for young talent. The city has grown steadily throughout the decades, including 25.54% growth in population from 2010-2019 — and many expect this trajectory to continue.
If employees enjoy where they live, it is likely to be reflected in terms of loyalty to a company. Here are four factors that make living in Temple good for employees and employers.
Affordable Cost of Living
Those who live in Temple do so at a low cost — 20.1% lower, in fact. Everything from housing to groceries to healthcare costs less in the city, plus there is no income tax or property tax at the state level. Such a low costs lead to less stress over personal finances and more income for employees to achieve success.
Temple’s low cost of living also has implications on a business’ bottom line. Employers are not as pressured to keep up with inflation when the basic needs of their staff are being met.
Equitable Access
Livability for one group can be inequity for another. This is because of things like implicit bias making it difficult, if not impossible for minorities to access the same resources as other groups.
A 2021 study from the Site Selector Guild identified Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) as one of the latest trends in site selection. Companies, especially those that are publicly traded or consumer facing, need to ensure their hiring practices correspond with an area’s demographics.
In Temple, those who identify as Black make up 15.9% of the population. The city also has a 23.2% Hispanic population. Similar constituency can be found in the Temple’s higher education institutions; for example, Temple College’s enrollment was 29.9% Hispanic or Latino and 14.4% Black or African American in 2019.
When minorities enjoy equitable access, they are more likely to remain with a company.
Close to Home. Close to Work.
For the average worker in Temple, a trip into the office is a mere 24-minutes thanks to low congestion roads and The HOP — Temple’s Regional Transportation System which serves 9,000 square miles over nine counties. This cuts down on frustrated commutes, increasing the overall well-being of a company’s talent.
Temple’s Santa Fe Plaza came to fruition in 2019 — a 34,000 square foot business center right in the heart of a revitalized downtown. Businesses in the area have easy access to the information they need, and after work employees have access to greenspace, restaurants and an outdoor venue with special events and concerts held multiple times throughout the year.
Better Employee Mental Health
What this all leads to is improved employee mental health and well-being. With its parks and hiking trails, low congestion roads, alluring neighborhoods and local art scene, Temple raises the standards for a high quality of life — all at an affordable cost.
Temple’s high livability standards match employees’ needs to find time to decompress and come back to work refreshed. Get in touch or visit our Tools & Resources and Site Selection pages for more information.