Perks and benefits are nice, but they aren’t enough to retain the best talent. According to Jon Franko, co-founder of Gorilla 76, employees want transparency, growth opportunities, and a culture that supports their lives outside of work. 

In this episode, Vanessa Brulotte speaks with Jon about how building a culture based on core values and empathy can drive stronger employee retention. Jon shares how his Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis shaped his approach to supporting his team. 

Key takeaways:

• How to create a workplace people don’t want to leave
• Strategies for building high-trust environments at work
• Why HR can steer the organization in the right direction

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Jon Franko

(03:13) The MS diagnosis that changed Jon’s leadership perspective

(05:00) Hire people better than you

(08:41) How Gorilla 76 encourages people to give back

(13:53) Transparency that attracts top talent

(17:00) Evaluating the impact of your benefits package

(21:59) Retention and engagement metrics to track

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “5 Powerful Benefits of Transparency in Business”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/creating-transparency-in-workplace

Read BambooHR’s blog, “Perks At Work: What Benefits Make Your Employees Happy?”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/creative-benefit-ideas

Download BambooHR’s guide, “Learn How to Retain Top Talent in 2025”: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/ebooks/definitive-guide-to-employee-retention

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonfranko/

Learn more about Gorilla 76: https://www.gorilla76.com/