In my research I found a lot of opinions, many case studies, a plethora of articles, and some significant research on ways to reduce employee turnover. If you want to confirm the volume of information, access the Internet and search “employee turnover.”
We know not every strategy is right for everyone and I was concerned about including strategies that weren’t backed up by valid research. Although I am a proponent of business practices being theoretically grounded, I feel, at this juncture, we could lose valuable options that could help us with our unique situation.
The following is a “top 50” list of options that you have—these are “possibilities.” Brainstorm with your leadership team to whittle down this long list into a short, prioritized, “right for me” list.
1. Include the appropriate skills and competencies in the job description
2. Use behavioral-based interviews to ensure candidates possess the attitudes, personality traits, and behaviors that ensure fit and promote commitment
3. Create a compensation policy (including pay tied to performance and variable pay) that supports the mission and culture of the organization
4. Market the call center internally to the rest of the organization
5. Implement career planning and development efforts that are tied to the organization’s business objectives
6. Base promotions on performance
7. Demonstrate commitment to the employee’s long-term development (job skills training and retraining - learning new skills for the present job and for redeployment); help employees take advantage of learning opportunities
8. Ensure that managers are skilled and effective coaches and facilitators
9. Implement training designed to change the myths of diversity; educate participants about the realities of diversity; and offer ways to respond to the challenges of valuing and managing diversity
10. Offer flexible schedule adjustments showing respect for an employee trying to balance work, career, education, and community (job sharing, flex time, telecommuting, full time to part time and back again)—and do it all without jeopardizing advancement opportunities
11. Conduct confidential exit interviews, and analyze and use the data collected in the interviews
12. Provide a work environment that is productive and respectful, with a feeling of inclusiveness; offer a friendly, appealing, welcoming setting
13. Provide challenging and creative work; design work that requires the use of multiple talents
14. Continually communicate the company mission, vision, and brand to employees; demonstrate how they contribute to each
15. Enhance employee engagement through team cohesion activities
16. Update your employee orientation to accurately reflect your expectations
17. Ensure that comprehensive change management is in place; include employees in change; eliminate abrupt changes
18. Provide tuition reimbursement
19. Provide competitive vacation and holiday benefits
20. Provide competitive pay
21. Provide holiday pay and / or bonuses
22. Improve your employee selection process
23. Customize an innovative reward program for functions and individuals
24. Evaluate the companies designated as “Great Places to Work.” These companies consistently experience a turnover rate that is half the national average; become an employer of choice.
25. Build increased commitment through fairness, care, and concern for employees
26. Provide an overall benefits package (health and dental insurance, stock options)
27. Train leaders in retention / engagement leadership competencies; hold leaders accountable for retention and engagement, using metrics to document impact of leaders
28. Collect input from team members regarding what it takes to retain and engage employees
29. Provide mentoring programs
30. Use technology to enable virtual teams and to make work more fun
31. Celebrate service anniversaries
32. Provide a 401K savings plan
33. Provide day care services
34. Provide sick pay
35. Distribute a company newsletter
36. Select an employee of the month
37. Allow employees to engage in community service
38. Match gifts to charities
39. Provide free / reserved parking
40. Establish recreational leagues
41. Open a company store
42. Provide exercise facilities
43. Provide a subsidized cafeteria
44. Provide a direct pay deposit option
45. Have holiday parties
46. Provide jury duty pay
47. Open a credit union
48. Hold a company picnic
49. Announce casual dress days
50. Create a process for internal job postings
