It’s been said by experts that employee satisfaction is key to a business’ success. An organisation will fall behind if it isn’t able to retain its employees. Even when the job market is weak, top talent will be able to find plenty of job opportunities. How can a business attract excellent employees and retain them?
When it comes to employee management, there aren’t any strict guidelines that you need to comply by. With that said, you’ll want to make sure you have a clear picture of how your employees are motivated.
Finding Intangible Sources Of Motivation
Naturally, a company will need to offer competitive wages and strong benefits if they want to get the attention of top talent. Unfortunately, paying well may not be enough to retain workers that have a lot of opportunities. Wages and benefits aren’t the only things that employees consider when they’re trying to decide whether or not they should leave a job. Some of the best ways to improve the satisfaction of your workers won’t cost you anything at all.
Some of the intangible things workers look for include:
● Workers want company leaders to communicate with them. They don’t want to find major developments via gossip or press releases. They want to hear about new strategies and plans for the future.
● Workers want to feel appreciated. They want to hear from leaders about the impact their activities are having on the company.
● Employees want to work with leaders who are willing to listen to them.
This is why it’s so important for managers to have regular meetings with the members of their team. During these meetings, leaders should pass along essential information, invite workers to ask questions and encourage them to give feedback. Companies should have an open communication policy that begins with senior management. From there, these policies will spread throughout the business. These values are something that should be expressed in employee handbooks and in any job descriptions that are posted.
Realising the Important Roles of Management
No matter what an employee’s title is, it’s likely that they’ll want to contribute to the organisation they’re working for through their leadership skills. Workers want to be involved in the decision-making process, especially when it comes to decisions relevant to their role at the company. They also want to be recognised for the contributions that they make.
Small business advisors at Lend say “employees quit bosses rather than jobs.In fact, a research proves that 57 percent of employees have left a job because of their manager. Moreover, 14 percent have left multiple jobs because of their managers. An additional 32 percent have seriously considered leaving because of their manager. ” They suggest, “employers need to evaluate the process they are using to select, develop, and train people in management or supervisory positions.
Helping in Career Development
The majority of employees want to develop and advance in their career. This is especially likely to be true when it comes to top talent. If people aren’t able to do their job properly, they won’t stay in that position for long. Training and developing an employee shows workers that their employer is willing to invest in them. Costly training isn’t always necessary. In many cases, companies already have experts on their staff that can train employees. This does two things: it provides the trainer with recognition and a development opportunity, and it gives trainees a chance to learn new skills and information.
Having a Flexible Work Environment
In 2013, The Australian Bureau of Statistics pushed through the Flexible Working Environment (FWE). That same year, a change in the office environment and supporting policies and guidelines were first trialled.
Over the past years, a focus on -People, Place and Technology which are the three key contributing factors needed to build a flexible workforce, has seen a positive cultural shift in flexible working attitudes.
Nowadays,workers are looking for employers that acknowledge that they have responsibilities and interests beyond their job. Employees appreciate benefits like flextime, job sharing, telecommuting, and modified schedules. When used appropriately, these benefits can do a lot to boost employee retention. FindLaw has an article on this subject that goes over some of the benefits and drawbacks of telecommuting.
It’s also crucial that workers have choices and flexible options. It’s important to remember that not all workers are going to be motivated by the same thing. Parents may be interested in on-site child care. Single adults might be drawn to fitness centres or gym discounts. Other workers might want a company phone or car. It’s becoming increasingly common for companies to do away with rigidly defined categories when it comes to time off work. Instead, businesses are offering flexible policies that allow workers to take a day off when it makes sense for them.
Being a Good Listener
If you listen to your workers, you won’t need to wonder what they want. They’ll tell you. Surveys, suggestion boxes, and exit interviews are all excellent ways to get more information about what employees are looking for. Any company that does conduct exit interviews will want to take the time to analyse these interviews. This can help a business to determine where changes need to be made.
Seeking Legal Assistance
When it comes to job retention strategies, companies can’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. If you have questions about human resources management, you may want to consult with an attorney that specialises in employment law.
