Are you a business owner struggling to find the right employee to add to your staff or maintain the workers you currently have employed? The “Great Resignation” has brought about a significant number of employees leaving their jobs, and it’s been difficult to find replacements to maintain the level of service.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 4 million quit their jobs in April, and almost the same number did the same in May. And from details in an article from the Journal of Accountancy, turnover is high in white-collar positions.
Anthony Klotz, Ph.D., a management professor at Texas A&M University in College Station, stated, “the resignation backlog, burnout, epiphanies, and remote work” are causing employees to leave jobs “across all industries, including the professional fields.” But it seems to be more than that causing a mass exodus. A main factor for employees leaving their jobs is often dissatisfaction, whether with wages, the work environment, or lack of interest in the duties they perform.
So, what can you do to help retain the staff you have? Experts share their tips.
- Embrace Flexibility – employees are used to remote work, different work hours, or other changes to their schedules compared to when they worked in the office. Maintaining that flexibility is what employees are seeking.
- Offer Balance – make sure your staff is not burning out. Staff may have been working extra hard to be able to complete their tasks, especially of other staff left. It’s imperative for them to have a balance between work and home life. This is especially important if workers are still performing their duties in their homes where it’s easier to pick up assignments they hadn’t completed then when they worked in your office.
- Ensure staff see a future with your company – employees want the opportunity to grow in their careers.
- Make sure your workplace reflects core values – “Creating a culture where your employees see value and meaning in their work can also play a role in retaining employees — that’s where strong leadership comes in”, Klotz said.
- Consider how you treat departing employees – is there something you can do to improve the process when employees leave? Do you celebrate the work they performed recognizing their contributions? Ensuring employees feel valued even as they leave can improve your reputation to attract strong candidates or incentivize former employees to return.
If you do lose an employee, you do have the opportunity to find available talent in the marketplace. But make sure what you have to offer is what candidates are looking for.
Are you a business owner struggling to find the right employee to add to your staff or maintain the workers you currently have employed? The “Great Resignation” has brought about a significant number of employees leaving their jobs, and it’s been difficult to find replacements to maintain the level of service.
