In the third post in our series on workplace wellbeing, we are going to focus on recruitment and retention.
All employers know how expensive and time consuming it can be to recruit new members of staff. There are agency or job advertising fees, the time and effort of existing staff members to interview candidates and then train the chosen new starter, as well as additional payroll and HR costs.
If that new employee then decides to leave the business after only a short time, the whole process has to start again, and the costs must be outlaid once more. Given that figures show that the true cost of recruitment can run into many thousands, recruiting the right person and then keeping hold of them is so important.
You might wonder what this has to do with wellbeing, but the two are intricately linked.
To perform to their potential, to work cohesively and creatively with colleagues and to feel part of a united team, people must feel valued and appreciated, that they are supported and understood, and that their employer sees them as a human being and not just a cog in the machine. Without this, employees will go elsewhere.
A high turnover of employees can have a negative impact on those still working in the organisation – not only does workload constantly need to be reassigned, which can lead to uncertainty and burnout, but working relationships between colleagues become unstable and fractured. It can also impact on customer satisfaction and retention, as tolerance for changing faces only lasts for so long before customers look elsewhere for greater stability and commitment.
There are various strategies that can help improve this, but one of the best ways to create lasting change is to have a holistic focus that encompasses a cultural shift towards support, cohesion and inclusion. If business owners can implement strategies that prioritise wellbeing, they can increase job satisfaction, creating an engaged, loyal and productive workforce. This means they are far more likely to retain staff for the long-term, and this ultimately leads to improvements across the business.
By striving to view their employees as whole beings rather than just a role function, by recognising their individual aspirations, emotions and motivations, employers can foster trust and commitment that enables employees to grow and thrive. In turn, this can develop a culture of positivity that spreads throughout teams and builds an environment where people feel inspired to contribute, which not only lifts and bolsters individual employees, but can increase overall business productivity and performance.
Businesses that nurture and support their employees, creating a workplace environment that puts its people first and allows them to be their best selves are far more likely to attract talented individuals who share the same values as the organisation, and are thus more likely to stay.
Photo by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash
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