Retention;
now how do we keep our best employees?
Don Schmitz /Human Resource Staffing
In
my recent visits with several HR Directors, I posed the question,
“What are you doing to show your employees they are appreciated?”
One
director stated, “I can tell you what we used to do; give
bonuses, tickets to sporting events, cash cards, time off,
referral bonuses and raises, but they are all gone.”
The
overwhelming response was we really are doing “very little”.
What many employees have received is twice the workload, higher
expectations and vacation time they afford to use.
The
following are some suggestions for retaining your best employees;
1.
Your leaders need to be involved in training
You reap what you sew.
Choose your best leaders and provide them an opportunity to
influence others. These opportunities will motivate others
to greatness.
Involve your aspiring executives to greet new employees. Invite
them to lunch or coffee and talk about what the company means
to them.
2.
Train your people for new opportunities
The
more training the company provides, the more your quality
employees will want to stick around and give their best. Earning
the gold watch after 25 years is not the way of the future.
Companies
like GE and Microsoft have learned to pull their people up
to the next level by training them for the next level. So,
ironically, the way to keep aspiring dedicated employees is
to help them acquire skills that will make them more marketable
later on
3.
Provide special assignments to your best employees
If
you have a special task to be accomplished, reward your best
employees by getting them involved in the project. Never randomly
assign employees or reward special assignment based on seniority
alone.
Jim
Collins stated, "Put your best people on your biggest
opportunities”.
Special
projects provide a much needed break from routine and allow
new skills, especially leadership to rise to the top.
4.
Give people the tools they need to succeed
In
your annual reviews, one requirement often overlooked is the
question, “What more can I do for you to help you succeed?”
Good employees will want to answer this question each month.
Good supervisors will listen and do their best to provide
these opportunities on a regular basis.
Back to the library
Reproduction
of this article cannot be accomplished without the expressed
consent of Human Resource Staffing. Don Schmitz is a popular
speaker and writer on all aspects of HR and CEO of Human Resource
Staffing. Don holds graduate degrees in Education, Administration
and Human Development.
Contact Don@HumanResourceStaffingInc.com
952 854 6040
