Ramp up retention

Great article!

The problem that companies face these days isn’t that the employer is providing a bad place to work, it is that there are employees who feel that they aren’t valued by the company that they work for, be it through the wages, conditions, daily interaction, etc.

The employee that feels that they are a tiny part of the business is usually the first to start thinking that company Y is better than their current employer, company X. This is the greener pastures focus.

Working for a company that recognises every person’s role, and takes the time to find out how they are doing, whether they need some assistance to reach their full potential, is very refreshing. The recent downturn in the economy has made several companies take stock of their staff, and, if they can, retain and not retrench them.

When I started in the IT industry, I was given a chance. This correlated to my personal view that if the company hadn’t taken the time to help me, I would have been unemployed very quickly.

The result was that I showed my loyalty by not looking elsewhere, and focussed on making my contribution to the greater good of the company the best I could.

I have worked for several companies, and the latest one has my support and loyalty. The company execs challenge me every day, my direct manager pushes me to reach my potential and I look forward to coming to work each day.

I work in an ever changing industry. It is always different. And it is this change, plus my continual access to learning and bettering myself that keeps me happy.

I recently assisted a young chap get a job at one of my clients. I fell into the trap of thinking that his behaviour out of work in his personal time reflected his work ethic.

The owner of the small business gave him every opportunity – allowing him to build the sales business as his own, providing him with the necessary tools, training and assistance. He spent the entire time there applying for jobs.

Whilst there are certain factors that create a disgruntled employee, one thing must always be remembered – for every employee, you must throw yourself behind the choices you make. If the company is the wrong fit, tell someone (preferably your boss) and do it as early as possible, to allow your employer the time to find someone who is a good fit.

For the employer, think of what you would like as a new employee. What could attract and keep you nowadays? Once you have an idea of the things that attract and could keep staff, try it on your existing staff. Find out how they feel.

If the environment is closed and oppressive, there won’t be much retention.

A company telling its staff how they are helping to achieve the company’s overall goals speaks volumes. Employees realise that they aren’t a tiny part; they are a valuable integral cog in a complex machine.