Has the COVID-19 pandemic made it increasingly difficult to keep your employees fully engaged on the job? Because of the stress they may be enduring in both their personal and professional lives, it’s no surprise that staff retention has become an even bigger challenge for companies across the board. To combat poor retention, investing in your organization’s employee relations practices can be instrumental in keeping your employees motivated to stay at your company and perform at their greatest potential – even in the midst of the pandemic. Here are some tips to consider:
Implement training on updated health and safety practices. Regardless of how much your company may have valued employee health and safety in the past, the pandemic has reinforced how important it is to ramp up hygiene and cleaning protocols. Implementing mandatory trainings in which your staff is educated on best practices is key to fostering a work environment in which your employees feel safe at work. By providing trainings either on site or virtually, you’ll demonstrate to your team that their health and well-being is a top priority. These types of trainings may cover a variety of matters, such as social distancing and mask protocols to COVID-19 screenings or updated sick leave policies.
Take a flexible approach to management. While the world continues to change at the speed of light, taking a flexible approach to the way in which you manage employees will allow your organization to adapt to ongoing external changes accordingly. This may involve continually re-evaluating remote work requirements for staff; integrating advanced remote communications technologies; and consistently informing employees about organizational updates and changes that affect their jobs. Additionally, providing regular training for your leadership team about new COVID-19 related policies will ensure your employees are being managed with the most effective and timely information.
Foster a more inclusive and empathic culture. If there’s ever been a time to enhance workplace culture, it’s now. With many people feeling overly anxious and overwhelmed, promoting work-life balance is key to helping employees better handle the many challenges they may be facing as a result of the pandemic. You can enhance your culture by offering employees scheduling flexibility; expanding remote work policies; and offering workplace wellness programs. Remembering that your employees need even more empathy during this difficult time will help your company maintain a positive and inclusive workplace.
There’s no denying that navigating the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major challenge for many employers. However, reframing your organizational practices with the tips above can help tremendously in retaining your existing staff while attracting new talent.
Do you need to grow your company’s workforce this year?
Learn how the Cullerton Group’s experienced team can assist with the recruitment and hiring process.
