How To Improve Your Employee Retention Rates


Running a business can be difficult no matter what size it is, and there can be a lot of things that go into helping it to function well. However, if you struggle with a high employee turnover rate it could make it even more difficult to run a successful business. When you have high turnover, it can put a strain on your business, and make it difficult for it to function like it should. The good news is, though, that turnover issues are often very fixable, and that it boils down to figuring out what it is that your employees need that they aren’t getting. If you’re looking for some ways to improve your turnover rates, here are some things to keep in mind.

So, you are wondering how to improve your employee retention rates? Start by being selective and taking your time for the hiring process.  Identify ways to boost employee morale and provide opportunities for growth. Shine a spotlight on your employees when they go above and beyond for you.  Troubleshoot and evaluate what you offer your employees. 

1. Be Selective During the Hiring Process

Before you worry about anything else, you may simply need to become more selective during the hiring processOpens in a new tab.. If you hire anyone who walks through the door without truly evaluating if they are a good fit or not, you are much more likely to end up with someone who isn’t. The more that you hire people that aren’t the right fit, the more likely they are to become frustrated with the job and to leave. Not only that, but they may not have felt committed to the job in the first place. By taking time with the hiring process and vetting potential candidates carefully, you can increase the odds of finding someone who truly is a good fit for the role you are hiring for, and who will be much more likely to stay long term.

2. Evaluate What You Offer

If you struggle with employee retention, something else you need to do is evaluate what it is that you offer your employees. While you might think that what you offer is enough, the reality is that you might have competitors that are providing more, whether it is amenities like access to inground swimming pools VirginiaOpens in a new tab. or better wages and health care options.

Either way, if you can’t seem to keep people around for very long it is probably time to start looking at what you are giving your employees, and how it compares to what your competitors are offering. Even if you have the best business in the world, if one of your competitors is offering significantly higher wages to do similar work, then you will very likely lose employees to them.

3. Troubleshoot

If you have looked seriously at what it is you offer your employees and know that the benefits and wages you provide are similar to what your competitors offer, then you may need to do some more troubleshooting. Is there one aspect of the job that seems to be difficult for most people? Do you have a workload that is too large? In some cases it may not even be about the compensation or the job itself, but it may be something about the workplace or your management that is driving employees out the door.

In this case, if you can’t think of what it may be right off the bat, you may need to begin doing some research and looking into different possibilities. One of the simplest ways to do this is to speak to your current employees, and ask them what could be better about the job. If your employees don’t seem to want to discuss these types of things, finding ways for them to communicate with you anonymously can be beneficial, and help you figure out what it is exactly that seems to be causing issues, whether it is an aspect related to the job itself, or management.

4. Make Sure to Show Employees They Are Valued

Something else that can have a big impact on employee retention is letting your employees know that they are valuedOpens in a new tab.. Many employees work hard, and would simply like to be recognized for the work that they do for your company day in and day out. When their accomplishments go unnoticed, it can be highly detrimental and can make them feel less connected to their job.

The less connected and engaged they feel in their work, the more likely they are to go somewhere where they will feel that way. To avoid having employees that feel underappreciated, it can be beneficial to shine a spotlight on them when they go above and beyond for you. Not only that, but finding small ways to acknowledge their efforts and show appreciation on a daily basis can make a huge difference as well, even if it is only speaking to them and offering a few words of praise and encouragement.

5. Give Employees Opportunities for Growth

Another reason why some businesses struggle to keep employees is that they don’t offer enough opportunities for growth. When an employee doesn’t feel that they can achieve things or move up where they work, they may start to think they would be better off going somewhere where they can grow and make a difference. One way to provide opportunities for employees is to hire from within as much as possible when looking to fill senior roles.

Something else that can be beneficial is to offer extra training and courses to employees who would like to develop their skills and improve at their job. Also, providing educational opportunities not directly related to the job, and things like tuition really can be great as well. The more that your employees feel that you are willing to invest in them and their futures, the more likely they will be to want to spend their future working with you.

6. Take Steps to Boost Morale

Sometimes, retention issues could simply be due to poor company morale. In this case, taking steps to boost the company mood overall can be helpful. In some cases, poor morale is due to poor interpersonal relationships within the company. If employees are frequently having issues with each other and with management it can lead to a lot of stressful situations, and high turnover.

To remedy this, working on communication skillsOpens in a new tab. is a must. Not only do you need to talk to your workers about how they can communicate better with each other, but you also need to work on how management communicates with employees as well.

Something else that is important to assess when it comes to morale is the overall work environment. Is the workplace comfortable? Do employees have the things that they need to do their job well? These are important questions to ask, as these two things can have a significant impact on an employee’s ability to do their work well, and feel comfortable at work in general.

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of things to think about and deal with when you run a business, and running a business can feel even more difficult than it needs to when you are struggling with high employee turnover rates. While this problem might be stressful to deal with, the reality is that there can be many simple solutions to dealing with it. From doing some troubleshooting and evaluating what you offer your employees to finding more ways to provide them with opportunities for growth, there can be many ways to start boosting your employee retention rates today.

Steve Todd

Steve Todd, founder of Open Sourced Workplace and is a recognized thought leader in workplace strategy and the future of work. With a passion for work from anywhere, Steve has successfully implemented transformative strategies that enhance productivity and employee satisfaction. Through Open Sourced Workplace, he fosters collaboration among HR, facilities management, technology, and real estate professionals, providing valuable insights and resources. As a speaker and contributor to various publications, Steve remains dedicated to staying at the forefront of workplace innovation, helping organizations thrive in today's dynamic work environment.

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