Employee Retention: 5 Affordable Ways to Boost Loyalty

Posted on November 01, 2011

Adapted from “Retaining Employees: 5 Affordable Ways to Boost Employee Loyalty,” www.reliabilityweb.com

Do more with less; sound familiar? In today’s economy, this is typical of many organizations’ platforms. It’s not that employers want to shaft their people; they just can’t afford to pay them the big bonuses and raises they deserve when they’re battling for survival. But it’s not the money that speaks when it comes to retention; it’s appreciation, respect, and love.

According to Todd Patkin, author of Finding Happiness: One Man’s Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and—Finally—Let the Sunshine In (StepWise Press, 2011), you don’t need an extra penny to show your employees how much you appreciate and care about them. So how do you make your organization a happy place to work? “Show the love” with these five strategies that say “thanks for a job well done!” to any employee, any time:

Send “love” notes. Similar to thanking someone with a thank-you card after receiving a gift, send your employee a handwritten (not typed!) note with your sincere appreciation and admiration. It will only take about five minutes of your time and will have a lasting impression on your employee. This will increase respect among your team and encourage a positive atmosphere where they will likewise say “thank you” more often to their peers.
Distribute inspiration. There are plenty of modern shows that illustrate work as a place of obligation, boredom, and even drudgery --- a far cry from inspiration and rejuvenation. “If you run across a quotation or story that inspires you, don’t keep it to yourself—pass it along to an employee, and perhaps, if appropriate, also mention that the quote or anecdote reminded you of him and his great attitude,” suggests Patkin.
Tell success stories. "Praise in public as ‘loudly as possible,’ and, conversely, criticize only in private!" Even employees who brush off praise or downplay their achievements love to be recognized and complimented. “When I was at Autopart International and I saw that one of my people did something noteworthy, I made sure that everyone else knew about it by sending the story about her accomplishment around in an email to the entire chain,” Patkin recalls. “I could literally see the glow on the highlighted employee’s face for weeks, and I also noticed that many of the other team members now worked even harder too in order to earn a write-up themselves." Just remember to reward the behavior or achievements you want to see more of such as an employee taking proactive steps to prevent a customer error or improve internal processes. If you recognize the person who is a good “fire fighter,” you just may create more fires in the future.
Identify stars. Some employees may roll their eyes over “Employee of the Week/Month” programs, but nobody is going to turn down the honor. Spotlight these employees in your company newsletter, outlining their profiles and lauding them for professional achievements, as well as their great personal qualities. People love to read their own personalized recognitions and it motivates others to work even harder to earn their spot on the pages.
Make it a family affair. Engage your employees’ families whenever possible when praising them. This type of validation will be remembered far longer than any bonus (really!). Call the employee’s family and try to leave a message, praising the employee for his efforts and accomplishments, and encourage the family to praise him, as well. “Years later,” says Patkin, “many employees whose families received these phone calls told me that although they didn’t remember how much their bonus checks were for that year, that extra-special homecoming was still clearly etched in their memories.”

“Trust me, showing people love, appreciation, and respect trump money just about every time when it comes to building long-term motivation and boosting employee morale and loyalty,” concludes Patkin. For more ideas on retaining top employees, please contact one of our ESG Human Resources Consultants at 888-810-8187.