This employee retention author sees the end of July as being a turning point. People are itching to get out more than ever. Many people still have the same frustration with their organization that they had prior to the start of the pandemic. Those have not gone away. In some cases, depending on how they were treated, I would also venture a guess that those frustrations may have grown due to the isolation that seems to have amplified everything. Some people who were too busy to pull together a resume now have it completed and are watching the indicators if they might get called back. Many are hedging their bets and are starting to very selectively look for jobs or post their resume.
Those organizations that are not giving their employees C.R.A.P. (Caring, Respect, Appreciation, and Praise) are truly making a major mistake in these times. Now is when your employees need to be given C.R.A.P. because they are scared, worried, and wondering what will happen next. When times are difficult, that’s when you as a boss or as an organization can show the stuff you are truly made of. That way, when things turn around and the dam breaks, you won’t have your people leaving in droves. What can you do to give your people C.R.A.P. in these turbulent times? Here are a few that come to mind for this employee retention consultant:
- Reach out to your people NOW. Listen to the concerns your people have. Update them on what is going on. Be truthful.
- Stay in regular contact with your employees…particularly your virtual ones. Do regular “check-ins.” One director I know regularly has zoom parties with his team on Friday night after work as a way to communicate the way they used to communicate when times were “normal.” It’s not perfect but his team appreciates the fact that he cares about them and does it.
- Give them appreciation and praise for getting the job done in these difficult times. Use that instant messenger and other electronic tools like FaceTime to praise someone instead of ignoring it because they aren’t sitting in the cube next to you.
- Keep them informed about what’s going on so that you shut down the grapevine.
- Still continue to talk to them about how they can continue learning and growing even in these unique times and encourage them to do so. One organization I know is offering online classes in a variety of subjects and their people take advantage of this learning opportunity.
- Address the fact that it’s not been easy and reinforce the EAP (Employee Assistance Program) you have in your organization. Mental health, alcohol, and drugs have become a major issue in the past 4 ½ months.
- If you get a text asking about their status…respond to them and keep them in the loop. When people text you as a leader, it’s a sign they want to talk; Don’t ignore it.
These are just a few ideas that popped into the head of this employee retention consultant. Remember…Give Your Employees C.R.A.P.® (Caring, Respect, Appreciation, and Praise) Why? Because C.R.A.P. Works!
Reach out to me on LinkedIn, call or text me at 414-305-9626 or click on the link below to find out how to Give Your Employees C.R.A.P.® and learn the C.RA.P. philosophy AND how it can reduce employee turnover by 35-80%
