Employee recruitment is one of the most difficult task any small business faces. Getting the right person for that important role can take weeks if not months to find and employ. As such, it is important that you inculcate work ethics that will help you retain your best employees and reduce staff turnovers. Here are some steps.
Value their Job – Understanding that everyone under your employment is important is the first step towards retaining great employees. Whether it is a cleaner, office assistance, driver, Financial Controller or IT Engineer everyone in your organization provides a unique value to your business. How you handle each person and the position they occupy is important in getting the job done. Surely, some jobs are more critical than the other or even indispensable but you do not for this reason treat other jobs with disdain. Just imagine having an office without a cleaner or employing a bad driver.
Value their time – Most employers are fund of abusing the right of employees when it comes to time. Whilst most jobs are 9-5, workers hardly close at 5pm. It’s worse if the extra time spent after the official working hours are for unproductive ventures. Some employees just stick around the office after working hours doing nothing simple because they cannot go home before the boss. As an employer every time spent on doing something tangible is creates more value for you.
Reward loyalty – Employees change jobs often cite a lack of appreciation for all the efforts they put in making a company a success. Employees who spend over 5 years in your organization should be rewarded for their loyalty. It is not easy to source for skilled employees so when you have one that has not left your firm but has stuck with you through the good and bad times it is refreshing that you reward such employees periodically. Most companies in Nigeria have started recognizing the importance of rewarding loyalty and recognize these employees during end of year parties. Some go as far as giving them gifts and sending them on an all expense vacation with their immediate families.
Reward achievements – Staff who help you attain important milestones in every year of your businesses should also be identified and rewarded accordingly. Surely helping you achieve milestones is why they were hired in the first place but in most cases extra efforts beyond what your remuneration cover is often required to achieve milestones.
Appreciate their input – Some employers like to adopt an “it’s my way or the high way” approach to getting the job done. While it has worked for some, it has often been a disaster for many others. Employees are hired to contribute to the growth of your business by utilizing their skills and experience. As such, you must allow them bring their experiences on the job by valuing their input. This encourages them to work harder and provide problem solving ideas and execution for your business. Valuing an employees input can be something as simple as giving them an opportunity to contribute at meetings and events.
Encourage creativity – Apart from valuing your employees input, it is also important to give them the opportunity to be creative. By being creative, employees feel a sense of responsibility and ownership of your business. For a startup, employing people who have skills is often not enough to get past the startup phase. You want your employees to task their minds at providing new ideas that can help increase your revenues. When you promote creativity in your organization, employees feel elevated and have a sense of belonging.
Value their career goals – Employers often like to have the most qualified people working for them. However, when it comes to encouraging their employees to work towards the path of achieving their career goals they falter. Valuing career goals starts by having frequent career talks and forums with your employees. Find out if they love what they are currently doing and where they see themselves in your organization in the next 2 to 5 years. Valuing career goals also includes helping them achieve their academic and professional goals. Encourage them to continue to improve themselves by paying for their professional and exam fees respectively.
Value their lives – This is perhaps the most important responsibility an employer has for his employees. Are your employees healthy? Doe you encourage them to have physical exercise and check ups? Do you promote healthy living? Do they have medical insurance? Employees are becoming more aware of this when committing their loyalty to an organization. Beyond salaries, they also want to be sure they have quality healthcare whenever it is required.
Pay competitive salaries – Salaries yes salaries. It still ranks high in guaranteeing loyalty. Employers should frequently assess remuneration levels within the industry they operate in. Try not to pay way below the average or way above the average. If you can’t match competition, try including variables such as perks and performance related payouts like bonuses.
Provide a great working environment – For some employees, it is beyond salary and allowances. A great working environment is equally as important especially now that people are dying of stress related activities emanating from a harsh working environment. If you wish to retain your best hands then you must work hard to create an environment that encourages friendly competition, promotes job satisfaction and enforces interpersonal relationships among team members.