After being hired, an employee would previously stay with the business until retirement. Currently, however, it is impossible to predict how long employees will stay in one organization. Therefore, companies guarantee employee retention by offering a range of amenities and advantages that enhance employees’ personal and professional lives. In addition, employees look into the work culture, healthy environment, organizational support and growth potential before joining the firm.
Especially with the pandemic revolutionizing the job market, there is a change in employee expectations from their management. With work culture and style rapidly changing, here are the best tips to retain your best employees.
- Provide Mentorship
Every employee feels awkward in a new work environment. Getting used to new surroundings, colleagues, work culture, and work objectives can be stressful. Therefore, companies must introduce mentorship programs to help them become comfortable with the onboarding process. Mentors can help recruits understand the company’s working culture and guide them to get used to the everyday work routine.
These mentorship programs and guidances help employees learn the requirements of their job quickly, work with high potential and provide good results for the company. It also helps employees feel a sense of belongingness in their work environment and become a part of the organization.
- Flexible Work Schedules
With the redefining of the idea of work and work culture since the pandemic, the employee expectation when looking for a new job is flexibility. Most employees look for opportunities that are not rigid with their schedule and give a work-life balance. Today people look for hybrid job structures that allow them to work from the office for meetings, team building and some socialization, and opt for remote work when needed.
Offering a flexible work schedule to employees makes them feel valued by the organization and considerate towards their personal and professional requirements. These feelings of being worthy in the organization enhance employee productivity, engagement and retention.
- Recognize Employees Contributions
Human beings seek validation, feedback, and recognition. Especially in a workspace where employees are putting an effort and contributing ideas and potential for the betterment of a project, they expect and are entitled to a word of acknowledgment. Conveying a good word and giving credit for their achievements will motivate them to work on upcoming projects and contribute better.
Feedback must be both positive and critical. It should be offered in a sandwich model where you start with the positive attributes of the employees and provide suggestions that will help them upskill, thereby working on their drawbacks or shortcomings. Constructive feedback will help employees understand their contributions to the larger operation of the company.
- Providing Perks
Employees are always excited about perks. Providing flexible work schedules, providing opportunities and training for professional development, health benefits, paid sick leaves, and maternity and paternity leaves are benefits that employees look forward to in a healthy work environment.
Today’s workforce is thinking about their personal life and prioritizing work-life balance. Hence employee retention heavily depends upon how much the organization values its employee’s personal space. These perks help employees stay loyal to the organization and work with them for a long period.
- Training and Upskilling
Employees look forward to a work environment with space for professional development. Therefore, companies should invest in employee training and schedule time for employees to attend programs that help them upskill and improve their potential. This offers a mutual benefit where employees feel confident in their capabilities and companies drive growth through their contributions.
The talent pool that the organization develops is the greatest asset to their growth and success. Professional development and building leadership skills will help organizations train their employees for future responsibilities in administrative roles and management decisions.
In every job people seek, flexibility and work-life balance are high priorities. Research suggests that putting in long hours does not necessarily boost productivity, but giving emphasis to the mental disposition and happiness of the workforce does. Hence, organizations must ensure that their employees are given the support and help they require and create an environment that makes them feel valued, secure, and healthy to contribute. These steps and measures will help companies build a workforce that is committed to the company’s success, thereby ensuring retention.
Small actions and changes can help build a loyal and strong team working with the organization for its success and growth. To read more about these tips, subscribe to Indigenous SME Business Magazine. For the latest updates, visit our Twitter page at @IndigenousSme.