Losing good employees is always a major setback for any business. But it can be especially difficult when those employees are your most talented and experienced workers. So why do so many talented employees leave their jobs?
Reasons Why Employees Leave Their Jobs
Many factors can contribute to employee turnover, but one of the main reasons is that employees feel undervalued or unappreciated. And this is particularly common in today’s workplace, where many employees are overworked and underpaid.
Another reason talented employees leave their jobs is that they don’t feel challenged or engaged in their work. They may feel like they’ve hit a ceiling or that their skills are no longer being put to use. This can be especially frustrating for younger employees who are looking to gain experience and exposure to new skills or environments.
Finally, employees may leave their jobs if they feel misunderstood by management. If your company is full of talented and ambitious employees, you need to show that you recognize and value their contributions. If you want them to stick around, they need to know that they’re an integral part of your team.
How to Keep Your Employees from Leaving
There are a few tactics you can use to keep your employees from leaving. Here are some of the most effective:
1. Ensure That Your Employees Feel Appreciated
You can’t underestimate the psychological impact of appreciation. Simply thanking your employees for their work every day, or recognizing them for a job well done, can go a long way toward keeping them engaged and motivated.
Plus, it can help boost morale and encourage teamwork throughout your company. So, make sure you don’t overlook or take your employees for granted by showing them the appreciation they deserve.
2. Give Your Employees a Voice in the Company
Many employees don’t feel like they have a say in how things are done. And that can lead them to feel disengaged and irritable at work, which could result in a higher turnover rate. It’s important to get input from your employees and include them in company decision-making, so they know that their opinions matter.
This is how Neo Kian Hong approached his role as SMRT CEO — by listening to his employees’ suggestions and engaging them in problem-solving. Since then, Singapore’s leading transport provider, SMRT Corp., has begun to improve its service and headcount.
3. Don’t Take Your Employees for Granted
If you expect your talented employees to always do great work, it’s easy to take them for granted. But if you want your employees to stick around, you have to recognize their accomplishments and thank them for their contributions.
Of course, this kind of recognition can be expensive. But if you don’t have any money to spare, you could also take your employees out for lunch or after work. Just don’t forget to thank them and show your appreciation when they do well!
4. Challenge Your Employees and Make Them Feel Valued
One of the biggest reasons employees quit is because they’re bored and under-stimulated. That’s why it’s important to always keep your employees engaged in their work because healthy challenges keep their brains active and prevent boredom.
Whether you offer them opportunities for career advancement or encourage them to take on new challenges within the company, you need to give your employees a reason to keep working with you.
5. Don’t Let Your Employees Become Overworked and Underpaid
Underemployment can be very frustrating for your employees, especially if they’re ambitious and hard-working. If you want your talented employees to stick around, you need to ensure that they’re fairly compensated for their work.
This means trying to maintain a healthy balance between productivity and your employees’ personal lives. As they say, work doesn’t have the only say in someone’s life, so you need to give your employees a break sometimes. If they’re enthusiastic, productive, and happy about their work, chances are you’ll see fewer people quitting.
6. Don’t Patronize Your Employees
Treating your employees like children won’t make them feel valued and respected. If you don’t respect their intelligence and skills, they’ll pick up on it quickly and will want to leave. That’s why it’s important to offer them opportunities for training, encouragement, and career advancement.
A successful business cannot exist without good employees, but good employees are constantly recruited by bigger and better companies. That’s why it’s so important to keep your best people, which is tough to do when many are ambitious.
Hopefully, these four tips can help you avoid losing too many good employees. If not, you might want to rethink your overall strategy for employee retention. The problem might be lying in how you approach your employees, rather than what you offer them.
