The first few weeks of the year may be known as January to you, but to recruiters, it’s “the golden recruitment window”. This is because, at this time of year, people are more likely to be job hunting. Why? It’s all down to those New Year’s resolutions. January is culturally programmed into our minds as the perfect time to evaluate our current state of affairs and identify what needs to be improved. Some choose to take up jogging, others clear the house of fizzy drinks and a substantial number of people decide to change jobs.
This is great for recruiters like us, so if you’re thinking of starting a recruitment drive, then get in touch with us sooner rather than later. But if you’re hoping to retain your top talent, then now is the time to show your employees that they matter to you. We’re going to tell you just how to do that in this blog!
5 ways to stop talented employees from leaving
1. Ask your team what are their (other) New Year’s resolutions
Never underestimate the positive effects that can come from simply showing your employees you care. No one wants to work for a faceless corporation in which they are just another small cog in the machine. That’s why we suggest asking your team what their New Year’s resolutions are and incorporating their needs into your employee health and wellness programme for 2019. This can be of particularly great advantage for the small company that is constantly fending off multinational corporations headhunting their employees! SMEs can really shine when it comes to the personal touches.
2. Is your top talent due a raise?
Sure, you can stick to the old school method of waiting for your employees to approach you to ask for a raise, but this comes with its own risks. Firstly, you’re blindly hoping that they are not getting approached by other companies dangling attractive pay-packets. If your employees are grabbing their New Year’s resolutions by the horns, this could be all the ammunition they need. Secondly, bypassing a raise for too long is not a good idea. It is easy as an employer to put this on the long-finger, especially in January which is typically a busy time for companies. But if you are serious about retaining your top talent then you need to be proactive and provide a reward if a reward is due.
3. Clue your team into your big plans for 2019
Even if you don’t follow sport, you’ll know from Hollywood films that no one enjoys sitting on the bench. Take a moment to think about all the individuals on your team and ask yourself is there anyone sitting on the bench? If there is, then you need to get them in the game! When people feel disconnected from the company, there is little to motivate them beyond their salary. Luckily, this is easily rectified. Share your business goals with your team, both the short-term and long-term. Be clear about how each individual role is vital to achieving these goals. Let everyone ask questions and be genuinely heard. Remember, the more transparent management is, the more involved your team can be.
4. What is good about working for your company?
Seriously, why should an employee stay with you and not move to another company? If you can’t list 3 solid reasons off the top of your head, then maybe January is a good time for your company to take on a few New Year’s resolutions of its own! Perhaps you’re in the position to provide flexible working hours? Or maybe employees could work from home sometimes? A shorter work week or more generous time-off policies are always appreciated by employees, no matter what role they are in. But the best way to find out where you could improve is by simply asking your employees directly.
5. Provide training opportunities for employees
Another reason people consider moving jobs is because their work has started to stagnate. Boredom is the ultimate motivation killer, but it’s tricky to notice from an employer perspective. After all, if they’re bored then they are probably doing their work rather well! Offering training opportunities so your team can up-skill is a win/win situation. They get to flex their mental muscles and expand their skill set, while the company directly benefits from having a highly skilled workforce. The good news is that employee training can be achieved cost-effectively with online resources such as Udemy providing hundreds of discounted courses for a wide range of industries.
Do you have a job you would like us to display on our jobs ? Get in contact with us today and we’ll connect the dots between you and your ideal candidates!
