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.
