Did you know the average length of employment for an American worker is only one and a half years? This startling statistic is courtesy of the Department of Labor and that tiny number is packed with a lot of information about the way we hire and the way we retain our employees today. Managers and business owners are more challenged than ever to keep employees happy and engaged on the job. It is important to know why your good employees are leaving and what you can do to reverse the trend. Here are some of the primary reasons employees leave their jobs.
- They don’t feel connected.
Employee loyalty sounds like it is a thing of the past but in truth we can still encourage employees to feel connected and engaged with the company culture. Find out what makes them tick. Find out who they are as individuals and get to know them. You want your team to feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves and that they have purpose. Provide this sense of belonging at your organization. - They don’t feel challenged and motivated.
There are very few employees who can be happy doing the same things over and over again. Most of your employees, especially the ones who drive your company innovation, need to feel challenged on the job. Provide milestones for achievement. Allow your team to have some creative control over their projects. Give them variety in their tasks. Cross train them with other departments to keep them learning and engaged. - They don’t see their career path ahead of them.
Many individuals leave jobs because they want an opportunity to advance their careers. If they feel like they have reached the top floor of your building, they are going to want to start exploring the floors of the next building over. Certainly senior positions may be limited within your company, but look at ways you can provide more duties and advancement for your current employees. Show them that they have a long term career within your organization. - They aren’t having any fun.
People need to be happy in order to be productive. We give a lot of lip service to work/life balance but in truth, if employees aren’t happy on the job they won’t be happy at home and it becomes a cycle impossible to break. Provide your team a workplace that they want to return to each day. Know that they often spend more time with their co-workers in the office than with their families at home. Allow them to enjoy their work and the office environment.
Are you looking for ways to engage your employees and keep them happy with your company? HTSS can help you so contact us today!