Your IndustrySep 15 2016

Retaining prized employees

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Retaining prized employees

Because getting recruitment right can be so challenging, it can be easy for a firm to put too much energy into hiring only to fail to keep the staff member engaged and motivated.

This is a stern warning from Derek Bradley, founder of online advisory forum Panacea Adviser, who says: “It can be all too easy for a firm to put all its energy into the hiring process, only to drop the ball once the new recruit actually starts working for the business.”

He comments on the importance of integration, which he says is crucial to ensure employees feel settled as soon as possible in their new role.

According to Mr Bradley, eight out of 10 employees who leave their workplace often choose to do so within the first few months of being hired.

He says: “There are no hard and fast rules of how best to integrate a new employee into an existing team of staff but a good place to start is to create a formalised induction for the recruit.

Don’t forget to consider your existing team too, as they will have to go through a period of adjustment to get used to working with the new recruit Derek Bradley

“The induction itself should include a broad range of information, from a who’s who at the business through to health and safety and a bit about the firm’s broader strategy.”

Insurance provider Unum has created a helpful guide for businesses in how to hire, train and maintain key personnel.

The guide, How to Motivate Staff: the Ultimate Guide for Employers, cited research from a 2014 Global Perspectives Survey from ORC International, which found the UK came 18th out of 20 countries in terms of employee satisfaction at work.

The survey found:

■ 44 per cent of staff believe their company doesn’t play its part in motivating them.

■ 40 per cent feel their job does not allow them to work at their peak.

■ 54 per cent of workers feel under-appreciated.

Unum’s guide showed employees were most concerned about enjoying their role, having a decent salary, pension and other benefits, and getting on well with their colleagues.

While making sure the remuneration is fit for the role (and without the sort of performance incentives upon which the Financial Conduct Authority frowns), it is imperative to focus on making staff feel their job gives them satisfaction and they are part of a collaborative and encouraging team.

Monitoring and mentoring

Alongside the induction, allocating a staff member to act as a mentor to the new starter and introduce them more informally to their colleagues can go a long way to making them feel comfortable.

Martin Bamford, chartered financial planner for Informed Choice, says: “It is our mission to be an employer of choice, to make it easier to attract and retain the best people.

“You keep staff by working closely with them, investing in their professional development and setting clear expectations for both parties.”

Making sure the newcomer has a career plan laid out for them, with any training and mentoring necessary, will also help you to keep staff motivated and engaged.

John Joe McGinley, founder of Glassagh Consulting, has three main strategies for retaining good staff:

■ Share your company’s vision with them and make them a part of it, so their goals and aspirations can match that.

■ Give them a career path with the milestones of remuneration and self-improvement that matches their goals and life aspirations.

■ Give them a road map of what this career could look like and the clients to achieve these goals.

Culture and comfort

Mr Bradley adds: “Don’t forget to consider your existing team too, as they will have to go through a period of adjustment to get used to working with the new recruit.”

He suggests organising regular team meetings and more informal activities, which can help build relationships among the team.

Allocating a staff member to help act as a mentor to the new starter can also go a long way towards making the newcomer feel comfortable and part of a team from day one.

Informed Choice recently introduced a formal one-week induction process for new hires, which aims to lay the foundations for a positive working environment, and making sure the new employee understands exactly what is expected of him or her.