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A good question, a GREAT question! 

The answer?

If you are a Business proprietor READ ON,  answers lie in the following 5 KEY areas:

1. What makes an amazing Workplace  

2. Staff retention  

3. Attracting new talent 

4. Staffing issues 

5. Hiring for the holidays 

 1. What Makes an Amazing Workplace

How do you fare to the ‘MOST WANTED’ list below?! 

• Honest leadership
• Flexible growth for employees
• Meaningful work
• A clear Vision and Identity. Culture – what the Business is all about and their place, the Employee, and how they can contribute.
• A collaborative environment
• Open communication
• Work-life balance
• Relationships: Wellness and Wellbeing, Respect and Recognition, Training and Support

 As you can see many of the items listed are basic to HR and developing strong bonds, the building blocks for creating that ‘Business Everyone, Everybody wants to work for’.

How many ticks did you get?

If you have ‘gaps’, don’t wait, take the steps now to offer all the above to attract staff. Create, your, ‘the Business everyone wants to work for’!.

2. Staff Retention 

Retaining staff, a challenge in a time of a tight market, with staffing shortages, resignations and competitive workplaces. A challenge faced by many operators, particularly small Businesses.

Staff retention is now key to running a successful Business!

Are you affected?

Yes, then don’t wait, start developing your Employee Retention Strategies to boost Job satisfaction and help turn the tide!  Take action now!

Here are 5 Strategies  

Strategy 1: It starts with Orientation, ‘Welcome aboard’!

When you welcome a new employee be sure to include an ‘onboarding’ meeting. It’s not just about the job/ role requirements, its vital the Company Mission and culture is discussed, and how they can contribute to it and grow.  This conversation sets the scene and tone for building healthy, happy, working relationships. 

Strategy 2: Pay and Conditions

You need to be ‘pay’ competitive but this can take the form of bonuses and regular salary reviews. Rewards don’t have to be over the top extravagant ‘gifts’, many employees are looking for flexible working hours, rosters with paid parental leave a must. Recognition and appreciation also can add to creating high staff morale!

Strategy 3: Employee Wellness and Wellbeing

Smart Businesses are offering initiatives to help keep staff ‘fit’.  This is about physical, mental, and financial health and wellbeing. Options can include, Gym memberships, fitness classes, retirement planning sessions and stress Management programs. Since the wave of COVID being ‘supported’ is high on the list of employee wants and needs. 

Strategy 4: Communcation

Open, honest and clear communication is critical, is and always has been and will be! Whether onsite, offsite or working from home it is vital the lines of communication are working effectively.  

Proprietors, Leaders, Managers need to play their part as the link between teams while still being available on an individual level. It's essential to provide an environment of positive, constructive and timely communication to build trust. Staff need to feel they can speak, be heard and listened to, be able to raise concerns, give feedback or offer ideas. 

Strategy 5: Training and Development

Professional Development and Training is a must for the ongoing performance and continuous improvement of and for employees.  An investment in this field pays dividends with a more skilled workforce, particularly upskilling with the ever-changing world of technology.  It also allows staff to identify areas for personal development and growth and paves the way for future succession planning.

There are more Strategies

• Performance – continuous feedback
• Recognition and Reward systems
• Teamwork, Team Building
• Change Management

 3. Attracting New Staff 

There are the ‘standard’ features Employers need to offer such as, job security, attractive fringe benefits, and a growth, transformation plan.

BUT, there has been a shift in potential employee attitudes in recent times. Businesses need to be aware of this change with new staff, ‘talent’ seeking an investment, to feel invested in the work they do and know their employer has similar values.

What does your New Talent proposal offer?  

Need updating?

A ‘new talent’, employee strategy needs to incorporate the following ‘valued worker’ proposition to address their needs:

• Employees want to feel valued 
• have a sense of belonging
• enjoy flexibility, work-life balance
• see the potential for growth

Tip: In the current labour market ‘thinking outside the box’, being creative in finding different ways to attract new staff is another strategy. This has seen some hospitality Businesses offer employees access to a portion of their pay during the month, when shifts are completed, rather than just on the usual payday cycles.  With present cost of living challenges this can make a big difference for many workers.

4. Staffing Issues

Many Businesses experience issues including, high employee turnover rates, sudden vacancies, screening problems/process, and over/under staffing levels. Importantly, treat Staffing issues as a priority, deal with them effectively, and treat to find solutions.

At the employment level there are often relationships issues.  These should to be examined under HR matters, Staff Performance and related policies.

5. Hiring for the Holidays

Get your skates on and hire now if you are looking to cover the nearing ‘Festive’ Christmas New Year and holiday peak times. With the annual school holidays and summer season it is a busy time for many Businesses.

Here are my 4 Top Tips:  

• advertise opportunities widely, using various methods 
• engage staff offering specified starting dates, pay & conditions 
• anticipate your staff needs based on previous and current climate 
• have a transparent and open screening process to get the best match

 You now have the answers, don't wait, 

start creating 'your Business the one Everyone Wants to Work For'!