As one of the leading staffing firms in South Florida, Future Force knows it wasn’t long ago when employees stayed with a company for 20 or even 30 years. Today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average tenure for workers ages 25 to 34 is 2.8 years. When you consider it generally takes about six months before a new hire feels totally comfortable, that means they’re on the job at 100% for a little over two years. That’s not a lot of time.
But just because that’s the average for U.S. companies doesn’t mean it has to be the norm at your business. Instead, follow these tips for building loyalty at work and retaining your top people.
Make sure your managers are well trained.
As the saying goes, people don’t leave companies, they leave managers. That’s why it’s so important to ensure the managers at your company are well trained in the art of leadership and communication skills.
Sometimes, a top worker can get promoted into a management role due to their technical skill and capability. But they haven’t developed the soft skills to effectively lead a team. That’s when turnover happens – and why it’s so important to ensure managers are properly trained.
Put employees first.
When your team members feel like you truly care about their careers, they’re going to work harder and longer for you. To do that, give your employees the recognition and opportunities they deserve. From regular praise to the chance to get promoted or earn extra rewards, ensuring your people are valued and supported will go a long way in job satisfaction and loyalty.
Keep your people connected.
In addition to actively working to keep employees engaged on the job, also make sure your team members have opportunities to connect. This can include anything from social activities to team-building events. Whatever opportunities you choose, the more connected your employees feel to one another, the stronger their bonds will be – and the more loyalty they’ll feel.
Focus on work life balance.
You need your people to get the job done, on time and budget. But if you have unrealistic expectations, or are constantly pushing your team to do more with less, they’re going to burn out. However, when you put some focus on promoting and encouraging a healthy work life balance, employees will feel less stressed and more loyal. Consider initiatives such as flexible scheduling, work sharing, telecommuting and wellness programs.
Hire right.
One of the best ways to improve employee loyalty is to make sure you’re hiring the right team members to start. If, for instance, you hire someone with strong technical skills, but who isn’t a fit for your company culture, they won’t last long on the job. Instead, take a little extra time to ensure you’re bringing the best fit people on board.
Need more help with your hiring or retention efforts?
Contact the team at Future Force. As one of the leading staffing firms in South Florida, we’ve been providing local employers with efficient access to the area’s top talent. If you’re ready for some professional help staffing your team, give Future Force a call.