Employee retention is one of the most challenging aspects of running a successful business. In the best-case scenario, your employees should form a cohesive team driven by common goals and loyalty to your cause. After all, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), losing an employee could cost your company anywhere from $15,000 to $45,000.
Creating a stable, effective team requires focused attention on employee retention. If you are losing more employees than you are comfortable saying goodbye to, then your next steps should incorporate these essential elements of successful employee retention programs.
Crafting the Perfect Orientation Experience
From the very beginning, every employee should feel valued, needed, and supported. Creating an orientation experience that achieves these goals requires going beyond first-day paperwork and a simple office tour. After employee recruitment, make sure all new hires are given a clean, organized workstation and give them time to settle in.
According to SHRM, providing them with branded merchandise can immediately include them in your company’s culture. Most importantly, introduce them to the resources they need to be successful right from the start, including the people they will interact with most often and the basic tools of their day-to-day workflow.
Prioritizing Effective Training
No one likes feeling like they are failing as an employee, so it is essential to give your employees the training they need to succeed. According to SHRM, new employees can truly benefit from shadowing veteran employees for a short period of time as they acclimate to their roles.
Longer-established employees should receive ongoing training support to ensure they feel comfortable and confident in their work. Make training sessions as individualized and employee-oriented as possible. When employees can express their concerns in a small group setting, they are more likely to get their needs met.
Continuous learning opportunities, from technical workshops to leadership programs, can increase engagement and help with employee retention by showing workers you are invested in their growth.
Integrating New Hires Into Established Teams
Whenever you hire a new employee, pay attention to the relationships they are building with their coworkers. As employees come and go, team and company culture can shift. In the ideal situation, as you focus on improving employee retention from the start, you can build an effective team that enjoys working together.
According to Wildgoose, 63% of employees say friends make their work more enjoyable. With effective employee referral programs, shadowing, training, and team activities, new hires can blend into established teams, improving workplace culture and employee retention.
Regular team-building exercises, mentorship pairings, and cross-department projects can further strengthen bonds and make employees less likely to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Employee Retention Through Recognition and Career Growth
Employee retention efforts work best when they go beyond hiring and training, extending into long-term recognition and career development. Employees who feel their contributions are acknowledged are significantly more likely to stay with their organization. Regular feedback sessions, awards for performance, and public recognition can reinforce a sense of belonging and accomplishment.
Career growth opportunities are equally critical. Offering pathways for advancement, funding professional development courses, and supporting skill-building projects ensures employees see a future with your company. When workers believe they can grow without leaving, your employee retention rates naturally improve.
By prioritizing effective support from the start of each new hire’s first day, you can begin to shift your employee retention metrics. As you try new strategies, keep track of which employees experienced which onboarding initiatives. After a few rounds of hiring, you should have a clearer understanding of the best elements of employee retention programs for your organization. For more support, reach out to our retention and recruiting professionals at Refered today.
