Organizations invest significant time, effort, and resources in the recruitment and hiring of new employees. However, nearly 40% of workers who have been with their current employer for six months or less plan to leave within the next year, according to a report by experience-management company Qualtrics. And various other reports show that about a third of new employees do not even make it to 90 days on the job.
One effective strategy for leaders to address these early employee exits is establishing a comprehensive employee onboarding program. A well-structured onboarding process facilitates new hires' adjustment to both the social and performance-related aspects of their roles, enabling them to become productive members of the organization more quickly. For additional information, please refer to Employers Council’s onboarding whitepaper.
While onboarding sets the stage for success, it is important to consider ongoing support for employees beyond their initial weeks. Focusing on the employee experience beyond the early days can yield significant benefits for both the individual and the organization. This is particularly crucial in today’s landscape, where retaining top talent is increasingly challenging, and budgets are often constrained.
Below are suggestions for enhancing various stages of the employee lifecycle to improve employee engagement, productivity, and retention.
Set Ambitious Goals
Goal setting should be a collaborative effort between managers and employees. It is essential for managers to engage with team members to define objectives that align with overall team goals while considering current strengths and areas for potential growth. HR leaders play a crucial role in this process by fostering collaboration among departments and managing timelines effectively.
Facilitate Learning Opportunities
Continuous training is vital for fostering a culture of ongoing development. To maximize available learning resources, HR and line managers should actively engage employees, helping them identify learning opportunities, address potential skill gaps, and remind them of the resources at their disposal. By effectively facilitating this process, organizations can enhance their workforce's skills and reduce turnover among high-performing employees.
Implement an Employee Mentor Program
Mentorship has a significant impact that goes beyond the individual mentee. When leaders engage in mentoring, they generate a positive ripple effect that influences entire teams and contributes to the overall success of the organization. This practice promotes a culture of continuous learning, encourages knowledge sharing, and helps to build stronger, more cohesive teams.
Support Career Progression
Promotions serve as a significant opportunity to acknowledge employees' hard work and commitment. They also reaffirm the organization’s dedication to employee growth by providing avenues for advancement and recognizing development. Offering tailored support during the transition into a new role can strengthen employee loyalty and help ensure sustained high performance.
Offer Wellness Programs
Even the most talented employees can struggle in an unsupportive environment. Therefore, investing in benefits and wellness programs that cultivate a healthy workplace is crucial for enhancing engagement and productivity. HR can help by guiding employees through existing benefits rather than continually introducing new ones. Providing timely reminders during key periods, such as enrollment windows, can effectively enhance the ROI of current programs.
Allow for a Smooth Departure
The employee experience should not end at termination; facilitating positive and seamless departures can foster future collaboration. Such practices also increase the likelihood of former employees referring high-quality talent. Conducting thoughtful stay and exit interviews and implementing cultural rituals to express gratitude for departing employees’ contributions are vital, alongside ensuring all compliance requirements are met.
Conclusion
HR teams often face constraints on their time and resources, requiring them to prioritize initiatives that maximize impact. Consequently, focusing on areas beyond onboarding may seem challenging, but it is essential for overall organizational success. Employers Council offers training courses to help with onboarding and retaining employees and building a strong culture, including the following:
Effective Onboarding: The Key to Employee Success
Creating a High-Performance Culture One Employee at a Time
Retaining and Engaging High-Performance Employees
Explore our training catalog for additional courses that you may find beneficial. For further assistance in establishing effective support strategies for employees, Consulting and Enterprise members can contact Employers Council.
Ruth Rusongoza is a human resources consultant for Employers Council.