Under-Used Tips To Improve Employee Retention

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March 1, 2024

Unemployment isn’t something many people in the UK worry about these days – at least not from an employee point of view. Unemployment is, after all, at a historical low. From a company owner and manager’s perspective, the fact there’s more jobs to go around than there is staff to fill them, can, understandably, be rather worrying.So, how do you make sure you hold on to your top talent? Apart from the obvious of checking every now and then that you’re incentivising more than the market rate salary for the positions you offer, there are other ways to ensure you continue to retain staff. And that means alternative perks and bonuses. Whether it’s an additional financial reward for reaching targets set, providing free perks for your office, orchestrating wellness activities for staff, or twinning junior staff up with the right mentor, there are many compensations you can offer your employees for staying with you rather than jumping to a competitor.For example, let’s look at the potential benefits of providing complementary fruit for the office. London based office fruit delivery company ‘Fruitful Office’ conducted a fruit trial experiment that concluded over 81 per cent of employees said their employer providing fruit had ‘improved their quality of life at work.’ At the same time, the number of people who felt their workplace made them productive jumped from 61 per cent to 72 per cent. Not bad for a basket of fruit!Global recruitment company Robert Half’s 2023 Job Optimism Survey showed that of the 2,500 professionals they asked, 46 per cent are currently looking (or plan to start looking) for a new job. A total of 61 per cent said they wanted a higher salary. Other discounted workers cited reasons such as poor work-life balance, the work was boring, they didn’t like the management team and there was no career progression. Others said they felt unsupported or overworked in their current position.

Tried and Tested Retention Strategies

The following are ideas management and company owners can consider to make sure they hold on to their best staff:

Working from home and flexible working practices.

More than 40 per cent of workers surveyed said the right to work from home at some point during the working week was the most important perk for them.

Looking after staff’s wellbeing.

Offering free fruit in the office, giving membership to a local gym and bringing in a massage therapist on a regular basis – these were all highly appreciated by staff. It also made them feel valued and that management really did care about their health and how they felt overall. A fruit basket for the office also reduces the temptation to indulge in more impulsive, sugary snacks.

Offering career progression.

Giving staff the ability to upskill or train for senior positions within the company was also highly valued by employees. It not only gave them something to aspire to, but meant they found their current role interesting and challenging. This was achieved through reimbursing staff for online courses and night classes, as well as encouraging them to attend conferences.

Providing work-life balance.

Do your staff ever get called in to fill in for shifts when they’re on annual leave? Maybe you expect them to work late to finish a project with a deadline but don’t compensate them by allowing them to come in late the following morning? Making sure staff get the time off they are entitled to and, let’s face it, that they need, is essential. Encourage staff to switch off at the end of the day by not taking work calls or emails while commuting or at home.

Recognise milestones.

If your employees stick around year after year then acknowledge this by showing your appreciation with a cake, a bonus or a special treat you know they’ll love. Other milestones to celebrate could be the completion of a big project or winning a coveted award.

Implement some of the above strategies and even if an employee does leave, at least they’ll have good things to say about your company, making it far easier for you to replace them.

Gina Powell

Gina Powell is a professional writer who specializes in writing about health, travel and the environment. She has a particular interest in helping people make more sustainable choices in their everyday lives. She is always exploring new ways to improve her skills as a writer. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking and spending time with her family and friends.

Gina Powell