3 Ways to Help Retain Staff in the New Workplace

The UK has for the first time had more job vacancies than unemployed people looking for work. With such a candidate-driven market, there are more opportunities than ever for people to change employer. 

But losing valued staff members is a big blow to any business. Recruiting new talent can be one of the most expensive aspects of running a business. Retaining staff not only saves you money but provides stability to your day-to-day operations. 

Here are some tips to help you retain staff In the new world of work we’re all navigating. 

Listen to your staff

Now this may seem like an obvious point. But historically, listening to employees is something that some businesses merely pay lip service to.  

The past two years have made employees across the globe really question their relationship with work. They want changes to be made to the way they work and if employers don’t listen to them, they face the prospect of talented staff leaving. 

A recent study from CultureAmp found that many employees that resigned had highlighted their motivations for leaving several months prior to handing in their notice. The businesses had every opportunity to listen to their staff and make changes. 

This study was carried out pre-Covid. Those that resigned often waited several months before finally putting in their notice. But in the current candidate-driven market, opportunities abound. Unhappy employees who feel not listened to are unlikely to wait that long.  

Be Flexible 

If your organisation is trying to take your workplace back to the way it was in 2019, you’re in for a shock. 

Flexibility is the new normal. 

Thanks to the pandemic, employees have found that they are more than able to do their jobs flexibly or even fully remotely. In response, many employers have made the decision to implement hybrid working policies. 

Even those employees who prefer working in the office 5 days a week appreciate the option to work from home, if they need to.  

Life is complicated. Whether it’s a doctor's appointment, waiting in for a delivery, or juggling childcare, flexible work options make people’s lives easier. If they’re still getting the work done, why does it matter where they are? 

Create a culture of learning 

Helping develop your existing talent is essential to ensure they stay with you long-term. Some of the biggest reasons people leave businesses are lack of career opportunities and lack of investment in their development.  

The cost of additional training courses or degrees is an often-cited reason for not investing in your existing talent. But consider the cost of advertising a new role, time spent interviewing and then retraining a replacement, not to mention, the impact on other staff morale if they have to work harder whilst you recruit. 

When you take all this into account, spending some time nurturing your existing talent is far less expensive.  

Creating a culture of learning can help employees feel invested in, confident in their worklife and the knowledge they gain ultimately benefits the business. 

Retaining Staff

Employees are the lifeblood of any business and keeping them happy is a sure-fire way to create a successful business. Investing in and developing your staff can help make sure you retain staff for the long term.