Dont Let Staff Disappear

With one in five employees expected to resign in 2005, staff retention could be a damaging factor on a businesses bottom line. However, those in the know can devise their own solution to recruitment and retention.

With twenty years experience in the industry, Carole Fossey of north west recruitment agency, beRecruitment, gives some tips on how to keep the staff you value on-side:-

1. Recruit the right people: Pay attention to the culture fit at interview stage to prevent problems later.

2. Ensure expectations are correct: donít sell a job in the interview that turns out to be different once the new employee starts.

3. Communicate: Never assume that people know how well / badly they are doing - nothing de-motivates faster than lack of praise for good performance, or sudden criticism when someone thought they were doing a good job.

4. Train: People want to feel valued and they want to learn and grow.

5. Make it Fun: You spend the majority of your waking life at work - create the atmosphere that you yourself want to work in. Have competitions. Have incentives. Have social activities.

6. Be approachable and show you care: One of the most common reasons for leaving is disagreements with the boss. People donít always agree, but if you demonstrate that you value their opinions, they are listened to and even if it has to be a decision they do not agree with - they know they have been genuinely heard, they will accept it. It is when employees feel completely ignored or that their voice is not heard, or appreciated, that resentment forms.

7. Be fair and consistent: You must make opportunities available to all and treat people in an even-handed fashion

8. Be clear about what the rules are: Again - if someone does not know what is expected or what is acceptable it is going to de-motivate when they are chastised or penalised. Donít assume people know - tell them

9. Consult when change is to be introduced: but donít make it a paper exercise. If something is about to change and you can consult the people the change will affect, even if it is just on the minor detail - if people have had some input into the change they will own it

10. Show them the bigger picture: People like to know what they are a part of, they like to know where they fit in and where their company is going so that they can see their future. Share your vision and show them how important they are in the achievement of that vision, and you are more likely to retain staff and achieve your goals.

beRecruitment is a successful Manchester-based recruitment agency offering tailor made recruitment for the following industries: recruitment, sales, marketing, construction, telemarketing, call centres, customer services, IT, legal, secretarial and administration. It has recently launched beTemps, specialising in recruiting temporary staff. For more information visit: