How can you keep your employees engaged?
It’s no secret that a disengaged workforce is costly. Perkbox recently estimated that employee disengagement was costing the UK economy more than £340bn every year in lost training and recruitment costs, sick days, productivity, creativity and innovation. The same research also revealed that a disengaged employee costs their organisation an estimated fifth of their annual salary – for instance, one unengaged worker on an average wage of £35,000 would cost a business £7,000.
To combat the rising disengagement rate, companies are turning to innovative strategies that connect employees with their work, colleagues and managers. This can be done through anything from company retreats and employee recognition programs to unique team-building activities.
The first step is to know what your employees want. This can be done through a survey or by asking them directly. Once you have an idea of their goals and needs, it’s time to create a plan to help them achieve them. Here are some ways to keep your employees engaged:
- Hire for personality. When looking for new employees, focus on finding people with the right attitude and personality to fit your company culture. This can be done through interviews or by having candidates complete an online application form.
- Create an employee handbook. This is a great way to let your employees know what they can expect from you and the company. It will also help them understand the rules and regulations that apply to their job.
- Provide growth opportunities. If your employees know that there are opportunities to develop their skills and move up in the company, they’re more likely to stay with you.
- Offer competitive pay and benefits. This is an essential factor in attracting and retaining good employees.
- Provide ongoing training opportunities. If you want your business to grow, you’ll need to ensure that your employees continually improve their skills.
- Create a positive work environment. Employees who are happy and motivated at work are less likely to look elsewhere.
- Create a safe working environment. If your employees feel their safety is at risk, they’re more likely to look for other jobs.
- Provide a flexible work environment. Need to work from home today? Or maybe you want to start working later in the morning so you can spend time with your kids in the mornings before they go off to school? If you offer flexible hours and other perks like these, your employees will feel more valued and less likely to leave.
- Provide benefits. Do you have health insurance or life insurance? Do you offer a share scheme or bike-to-work programme? If not, your employees will be more likely to look elsewhere for jobs that offer these types of benefits.
- Provide a culture of appreciation. Do you have an employee recognition program? If not, then your employees will feel underappreciated and less likely to stay at their jobs.
Overall, retaining your talented staff and keeping them engaged in their work roles will be challenging. You must treat all staff fairly, give opportunities for career development and provide a good quality of life in order to do this; if you can do this, then the chances are that you will have the best chance of retaining your valued staff.
Are you having issues with staff retention or engagement? We can help find suitable candidates to fill your vacant roles; call 0161 839 5353 or fill out the form below, and a team member will be in touch.