Published on : 29th July 2021
As part of COVID-19 preventative measures, companies closed down their offices, forcing employees to work from home. A year later, most companies have embraced fully remote workers, with some making their pandemic-era remote working arrangements permanent.
While this shift promises better jobs for skilled workers, businesses are vulnerable to talent poaching now more than ever. Here are a few measures you can take to preserve your existing workforce.
Before the pandemic hit, many companies were struggling to retain their employees, especially younger workers. This is because a large percentage of employees between 22 and 37 are willing to quit a well-paying job for one that better aligns with their values.
As companies prepare to recruit new workers from all over the world, employers will have to create an environment that matches their employees' expectations to further reinforce their commitment.
A great way to do this is by creating a reward system that goes beyond the financial benefits. Create skills development programs, offer volunteer opportunities, and have targeted career conversations with your employees.
Trying to retain a remote workforce will be much more difficult to do because distance has created a disconnect between employers and their employees. Working from home has made it much more difficult for employees to air their grievances, making it harder for employers to resolve them.
A good example of this is the viral slide deck created by Goldman Sachs employees. In the presentation, employees explained that their job demands coupled with remote working were giving them many reasons to look for work elsewhere. In response, the CEO of Citigroup introduced 'Zoom-free Fridays' to help workers rebuild their work-life balance.
Make it personal - Every employee wants to be noticed and appreciated for their efforts. Employees are less likely to leave a work environment where they are personally known and valued, so to retain your workforce, ensure that you acknowledge employees who perform particularly well. Let them know the importance of their work and the impact it has on your company.
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