Some amount of turnover is to be expected in every business, but many organizations struggle with keeping a steady roster of seasoned employees. In fact, One study found that nearly one third of new hires leave their job within the first six months! But a high turnover rate can become a costly drain on a company’s time and resources.
The key to retaining employees is by improving their job satisfaction. Satisfied employees are eager and enthusiastic to bring their very best to work each day. This is what’s referred to as high employee engagement.
Here are the top five ways to improve employee engagement at your company and mitigate turnover in the process:
Ask, then listen
Communicating with your employees is paramount to achieving high employee engagement in the workplace. But more importantly, a large part of that communication should be asking employees for their opinions – and then carefully listening to their responses.
Regular one-on-one meetings with your employees is a great way to get to know your reports and get familiar with their strengths and motivators. Group meetings and brainstorming sessions are another way to give your employees a chance to share their thoughts and ideas.
Conduct a survey
Another option is to run an annual employee survey. If done correctly, it can provide valuable insight that you can’t get by speaking to your employees directly. Invest in a third party survey service that can conduct a comprehensive employee satisfaction survey. This gives your employees a chance to express their opinions honestly and anonymously.
However, it’s not enough to just conduct the survey. You need to analyze the results and take action. Even small changes can be big wins for your employees and make them feel like they’re being heard.
Implement a collaborative hiring process
It’s important that new hires are selected with the work culture in mind. Even if they have all the skills and qualifications to do the job, they may not be the right fit for the team. Involve your employees in the hiring process by including them in the second interview. Select a few employees to meet with the candidate in a more informal setting, like the break room or a cafe.
Afterwards, get feedback from your team about their impressions. This also makes your employees feel like they are part of the decision-making process, which gives them more ownership of their role within the company.
Invest in a positive and fun environment
The team that plays together, stays together! Find ways to infuse fun into the workplace to boost employee morale and encourage collaboration. Arrange a company barbecue, potluck lunch, or charity event. Better still, ask for volunteers to form an events committee to take the lead on arranging these events.
Recognize your employees
Good employees are career-driven and crave recognition. Many organizations don’t understand just how important this is! In fact, one survey of 1000 participants found that 75% employees who were recognized at least once a month by their employer’s reported feeling satisfied with their jobs. Weekly recognition and satisfaction boosted their satisfaction by another 10%. In other words, the more recognition, the greater the employee satisfaction and engagement.
Recognition doesn’t have to be monetary. Publicly acknowledge an employee for job well done in front of their peers, or write them a thank-you note for going above and beyond on a certain task.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, engaged employees are the ones who feel appreciated and a part of the company’s success. Make the effort to boost employee engagement in your organization and it will benefit your business just as much as it benefits them!
