Dont let your workforce leave you out in the cold this year

What will be at the top of your New Yearís Resolution list for 2005? According to a recent survey commissioned by Human Capital Management software vendor Zynap, a new job takes the number one spot on the list for a quarter of the British workforce.

January is renowned as one of the busiest periods of the year for the recruitment industry. The New Year drives people to take a fresh perspective on their lives, often giving them the incentive needed to change an unhappy job.

So, with many people set to leave their employers out in the cold in the New Year, are businesses really doing enough to retain their staff?

83 per cent of the people surveyed planning to leave did not believe their employer to be taking any action to address the reasons why. Employees are looking to their bosses for more than a bit of office tinsel and Christmas fairy lights this year to get them to sparkle in their jobs.

With almost 50 years experience in the recruitment industry, the Kent based Human Resource Group Plc highlights the main areas businesses should focus on to help their employees to feel valued and happy in the workplace. The answer isnít just to pay more:

-Ensure your employees feel valued

-Give praise for a job well done. It doesnít take much to say thank you but it goes a long way

-Talk to your employees but also remember to listen to them and any ideas they may have

-Focus on career development whether it be through training, courses or promotion

-Recognise that your employees play an important part in the company, its vision and what it achieves

-Give regular appraisals to set and review personal objectives to give employees a goal to work towards

-Establish a pay review structure or set date(s) for review in the year

-Champion a happy work-life balance in the workplace ñ be flexible to accommodate personal family commitments where possible and appropriate

By businesses acknowledging these points and taking action now, it could save them millions from losing skilled staff to competitors.

So, donít just focus on meeting targets. Become a cracker of an employer and concentrate on gift wrapping your star employees to retain them during this period.