Retaining employees for the long term is crucial for a cohesive and supportive work environment. Communication, validation, and appreciation are key retention ideas, along with tangible performance rewards. Two-way communication and recognition of employee contributions are important for employee retention.
A stable workforce is one of the greatest assets any company can have. By retaining employees for the long term, businesses facilitate the establishment of relationships and trust with the people who work in the company, even as those employees create a cohesive and supportive work environment. While there are many different retention ideas that work well, most of them center around three basic concepts: communication, validation, and appreciation.
The importance of communication, one of the key retention ideas, cannot be overstated. Many companies do a good job of communicating information to employees, using methods such as an updated handbook, company newsletters, and even a bulletin board in the break room. For companies that really want to retain employees, this communication must move from a top-down approach and provide mechanisms for employees to communicate with supervisors, managers and each other in ways that encourage openness and working together. Retention ideas like this two-way communication help ensure that no one feels like an outsider and that everyone feels free to participate in discussions.
Another of the most important retention ideas has to do with validation. Here, the focus is on affirming or validating the contributions each employee makes to the company’s success. Everyone likes to feel like what they do makes a difference, and taking the time to identify specific ways employees’ actions make the company stronger will provide that level of affirmation. Many employers overlook the little things employees do, but savvy companies know that recognizing that employee recycling waste paper from scrap paper into scrap paper for note-taking and similar uses is saving money and will be keen to recognize this contribution.
Along with validation, appreciation is also one of the most important retention ideas. Some people confuse the two, assuming that validating a contribution is the same as expressing gratitude. While this may be implied, it’s important to take it a step further and express this gratitude after acknowledging the good work an employee is doing. As with most retention ideas, the purpose behind expressing appreciation is to reinforce the understanding that the employee is wanted and valued and to encourage him or her to remain a part of the team for the long term. Something as simple as a handshake, a smile, and verbal thanks to the employee will go a long way toward boosting morale and strengthening the bond between employer and employee.
When and as much as possible, tangible performance rewards can also motivate employees to stay with the company for the long term. Retention ideas of this type might include an annual bonus, salary increases when the company’s financial condition warrants the activity, or even something relatively inexpensive, such as providing the employee and guest of choice with an evening at a nice restaurant. When combined with positive workplace feedback and the ability to discuss anything with managers and supervisors, these tangible rewards can go a long way toward motivating the employee to stay in business and continue contributing to the company’s success.
Asset Smart.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
