Retention & Engagement

Take steps to keep your employees from getting the commuter blues. Win their appreciation and loyalty in the process. Your employees spend an average 52 minutes on their daily commute to and from work. Sitting in traffic, dealing with a flat tire, or waiting for the bus or train, your employees may be dreaming of an easier commute. You can’t move your employees closer to your company or magically make traffic disappear, but there are many steps you can take to make commuting easier and less expensive. Your efforts also can increase worker loyalty and reduce turnover. … [Read more...] about Keep Commuting Conundrums from Causing Turnover Traffic

Low unemployment, ghosting, and other issues will haunt your efforts to recruit workers in 2020. Fill openings with the right people by targeting passive job seekers. Despites talk about a recession and slowing job growth, unemployment remains low. As a result, it may take longer to fill vacancies, especially those for highly skilled positions. One way to overcome this obstacle is to become more adept at identifying and reaching passive job candidates. … [Read more...] about Move Promising Job Candidates from Passive to Active

Employees value diversity, likely more than you realize. According to the 100 Best Workplaces for Diversity report, diversity, inclusion, and equity are essential to building business value; and they help attract and retain good workers. Read on to see what employees at top companies say about how their employers prioritize diversity. … [Read more...] about What Top Companies Have in Common: They Live and Breathe Diversity

If you dread going to work because your boss is a bully, resolve to do something about it. Approximately 60 million Americans are affected by workplace bullying, and bosses comprise about two-thirds of the abusers. Nearly 40% of people who say they’ve been victims of bullying experience health problems such as serious anxiety, panic attacks, and clinical depression. It clearly is essential for organizations to take bullying seriously. However, if you are a target and suffer from abuse, it may take some work on your part to get the ball rolling. … [Read more...] about Don’t Let a Bullying Boss Make Work Miserable for You and Others

Managers dread providing negative feedback, but employees actually want this more than praise and compliments. If the idea of giving feedback—particularly if it’s negative—makes you break out in a cold sweat, you’re not alone. In at least one survey, 44% of managers say they find this activity to be stressful and/or difficult; and 21% say they just avoid giving feedback altogether. Believe it or not, employees actually want constructive criticism. Some say they prefer corrective feedback over praise and recognition. They suggest that it helps them feel empowered to address critical problems and grow as professionals. Helping your team leaders feel comfortable sharing all kinds of feedback with employees can enhance retention and boost morale. … [Read more...] about Fear of Feedback May Be Costing You Good Employees

Nurses are a powerful part of your workforce, and they have strong opinions about what brings them satisfaction and makes them want to stay or go. A new study confirms that efforts to improve culture and ensure the availability of adequate resources strongly contribute to the job satisfaction of nurses working in the long-term care (LTC) setting. According to the authors, their findings suggest that “residential LTC settings should consider providing comprehensive on-the-job training to ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to provide quality care to residents and creating additional space for staff.” … [Read more...] about Are You Giving Nurses What They Want and Need to Love Their Jobs?

Supervisors count on personal meetings with workers to promote collaboration, retention, and engagement, but they need the right tools and resources for these interactions. According to a new survey, balancing team management with their other duties is the most significant challenge managers face. Two-third (68%) of respondents identify this as a top concern, compared to hitting team goals (14%), obtaining team collaboration (11%), and retaining employees. To manage these efforts, most managers see one-on-one meetings with their workers as an essential tool. They often have different goals and use different resources and technology to make these activities productive. However, there are several tips for one-on-ones that best promote engagement, retention, and innovation. … [Read more...] about Make One-on-Ones Twice as Valuable for Managers and Workers Alike

Take time now to ensure that those who have to work when others are off have a reason to love their jobs and be productive. Working on the holidays may be necessary, but it can be emotionally draining and morale-deflating for employees. Helping workers feel better about sacrificing holidays doesn’t have to be expensive and complicated. There are some basic but meaningful steps you can take to make hands-on holidays more productive and less stressful. … [Read more...] about Holidays on the Job Don’t Have to Be Humbug for Workers

Knock out turnover with recognition programs that make employees feel like champs. Rewards and recognition come in many forms; but most employees agree that these can make a big difference in how they feel about their organization and how long they stay. According to a recent survey, while most organizations have informal recognition programs, only 36% say they are widely applied. These programs are important, but it’s what goes in them that can make the difference between workers who feel appreciated and valued by their employers and those who don’t. … [Read more...] about Done Right, Rewards Can Pack a Punch

While tangible benefits such as 401(k) plans and health insurance are popular among employees, more ideological offerings are at the top of their wish lists. A new survey looked at what benefits employees want and found that they often wish for things they don’t really expect to get. At the same time, there are benefits they expect (and almost always get) that don’t really add much to job satisfaction. The survey authors said their findings suggest that “although there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for employee satisfaction, leaders need to have these conversations regularly in order to know what’s working and what’s not in their organization.” … [Read more...] about What ‘Delighters’ Deliver Engaged Employees?