Building a Resilient Workforce: Strategies for Employee Retention
A resilient workforce is more critical than ever in the face of today’s ever-changing business landscape. Resilient employees are invaluable, as they demonstrate adaptability, agility, and tenacity. They handle change and disruptions well and tend to exhibit strong loyalty and commitment to their organization and its future.
Shore Up Your Resilient Workforce
Foster a culture of continuous learning.
As shown in an Association for Talent Development (ATD) study, companies that prioritize staff learning and development have a significantly higher employee retention rate.
Listen to your employees as they discuss their career goals—and design upskilling, reskilling, and professional growth opportunities that align with individual plans. Offering various venues for continuous learning is a great way to help people enhance their performance, confidence, and job satisfaction.
Emphasize employee wellbeing.
Whether your employees are onsite, remote, or you have a combination of both models, always be aware of their physical and mental health and well-being. According to a recent Gallup study, workers with high levels of well-being are 21 percent more productive than their counterparts who may be struggling.
Employee wellness is good business. Examine, expand, and improve your wellness offerings. Here, too, be sure they meet the specific needs of your workers their loved ones.
Recognize and reward jobs well done.
Seventy-eight percent of employees surveyed in another study noted that being recognized motivated them at work. Everyone wants to feel appreciated and valued. A robust employee recognition program can go a long way toward building resiliency and loyalty.
You can implement successful programs—even at a small business or with a limited budget. The secret lies in recognition being sincere, thoughtful, and meaningful to the recipient.
Pay competitively.
Compensation may not be top on the list of every job candidate, but it remains a key factor in deciding where to work – and whether or not to stay there.
Know what your competitors are offering, and be sure you keep the playing field level—or better. It’s partially about salaries, but also about benefits and perks—including comprehensive healthcare and retirement plans, flexible savings accounts, tuition assistance, and again, whatever works best for each individual on your team. There’s no one-size-fits-all package.
Keep a pulse on your people.
Retaining top talent and keeping your team resilient depends largely on understanding what drives employee job satisfaction. Make sure your company continues to keep communication flowing.
- Conduct employee surveys, town hall meetings, and focus groups. These can be done remotely or onsite.
- Manage by walking around. Increasingly, employers are abandoning the traditional annual performance review in favor of more frequent, less formal meetings with employees. Do whatever it takes to promote timely, constructive two-way feedback, using as many venues and opportunities as possible.
- Hold exit interviews. What better way to nail down reasons for people leaving and thus determine where your talent retention methods need improvement?
Partner With PrideStaff
Contact the recruitment experts at PrideStaff Modesto to learn more about hiring strategies for ongoing resiliency and retention.
