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Staff recruitment is expensive and time-consuming. Even if you employ an external HR company to complete the process, you will still have to check ads, read resumes and attend interviews. If after all of this you have a high staff turnover rate, your time and investment have gone to waste. Don’t let this be a problem in your business. Take steps to engage and retain employees.
Listen & Act
The first step to increasing employee retention is to listen. Create an open environment where staff feel confident enough to share their ideas and issues. But it’s not just about listening. It’s also important to show that you take their ideas seriously and are willing to adapt and make changes.
A great way to ask for opinions is to set up a Vetter online suggestion box or similar on your website. This invites employees to make suggestions. This invites engagement and creativity.
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Don’t Micromanage
Workers who are unable to plan their own workload and take responsibility for their work, are more likely to feel stressed and discontented. Everyone has their own way of learning and working. Of course, compromises need to be made in a work/team environment. However, if employees are micromanaged, tension can ensue.
Find ways to communicate objectives and timelines effectively. Then allow staff the freedom to plan and action their own workload. If you need to be kept informed, agree with them the best way to go about this. It could be in the form of regular reports or summary emails, etc. But avoid constant interruptions and insisting on completing work in a prescriptive way. You’ll find that your staff will feel less restricted and tense and this will allow them to flourish.
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Flexible Working
Wherever possible, allow for flexible working. Your employees’ working day is only a small part of their life. If work encroaches on their free time and there is no clear balance between work and family, they are likely to seek employment elsewhere. This has to be managed carefully so that all bases are covered. But there are several options for allowing a more flexible approach to working:
Flexi time
Working from home or a split between work and office
Time off in lieu
Working around childcare duties
Early/late starts to suit
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Improve Your Premises
Your environment has a direct impact on your well being. Workers who are happy and at ease are more likely to be productive and less likely to seek employment elsewhere. You don’t have to create an environment on par with Google, but there are simple steps you can take to make the most of your premises.
Comfortable ergonomic furniture
Spacious desks with adequate room to work
Breakout rooms for eating and relaxing
Thoughtful decor and aesthetics
A clean, bright environment with natural daylight
Many employers make the mistake of assuming a good salary is all it takes to retain staff. But this is not always the case. There’s always a bigger organization that can afford higher salaries. Though we have to be practical, not everyone is motivated by monetary rewards. So, it’s important to create the right environment to attract new employees and to encourage them to stay.
