How to retain employees? 4 major levers

Retaining employees within a company. It is important to pay well, offer social benefits but also flexibility and balance between professional and personal life. Managers, be attentive to the expectations and needs of your employees by organizing regular interviews!

For our grandparents and parents, spending their entire career with the same organization was not unusual. Today, the most coveted talents choose thecompany they want to work for and do not feel guilty about quitting for a better opportunity. Moreover, this can be observed among young people who seem less attached to their employer than their elders. According to an Opinion Way survey published in 2017, 48% of 18/30 year olds surveyed responded that they had held their first job for less than a year. Why retain employees ? Because recruitment is expensive and disengaged employees can have a negative impact on business performance . So how do you retain your employees ? Our article deciphers the levers to activate to keep your employees longer in the company.

1 - Offer attractive compensation to keep your employees for a long time

Only 45% of French people feel they are well paid for the efforts they make for their company (European study on working conditions published in 2021). Also, when asked about their sources of dissatisfaction at work, their income comes out on top, according to a recent report by the Institut Montaigne. In line with these results, the main motivation for changing jobs is salary increase (PwC Global Workforce Hopes andFears study).

If you want to keep your employees on board, you'll need to offer them motivating remuneration. In an inflationary climate such as the one we're currently experiencing, employees will be particularly sensitive to an increase in their income. Paying an exceptional bonus is also a fine mark of recognition for a good result, taking on new missions, the success of a project, etc.

In addition to salary, providing your employees with social benefits is an option not to be overlooked: luncheon vouchers, gift cards, sports cards, a company car or subscription to a complementary health plan offering good healthcare coverage.

2 - Survey the work/life balance to understand how to retain employees

We often ask ourselves: how can we retain our employees other than through money? If we take a closer look at their expectations, we see that they are now looking for greater flexibility. After the covid-19 crisis and the confinements that have enabled everyone to reclaim their daily lives, it's hard to go back to the office five days a week. Offering occasional or regular telecommuting has therefore become a must for employers. With its ability to cope with unforeseen events, eliminate commuting time and organize one's schedule as one sees fit, telecommuting takes the pressure off workers' schedules.

Work/life balance is key. This is reflected in a clear separation of the time allocated to these different spheres. And yet, we note that traditional working days are disappearing, in favor of more unusual schedules. At least 35% of employees say they often or always work at weekends, and/or in the evenings after 8pm.

A quarter of employees define their workload as excessive. Managers must regularly question their teams on their ability to complete all projects within the set timeframe. Over-ambitious targets can lead to overwork, stress and, in the longer term, unhappiness.

Set aside time slots for discussions with your employees. This allows everyone to express themselves about their difficulties. The more you are aware of what they are feeling, going through and experiencing, the more you will be able to know their frustrations, and thus, prevent them from wanting to take a powder.

3 - Work on training and internal mobility policies to retain employees

As an employer, you have an obligation to ensure the employability of your employees. Tech, AI, business skills have never evolved so fast. Offer your team solid training to acquire new skills. It's a good way to stand out from your competitors.

If we take the results of the study published by the Montaigne Institute on the sources of dissatisfaction at work, the second is the lack of career prospects or evolution. Indeed, working people show a strong desire for professional mobility. We now expect work to be a place of fulfillment, but also of knowledge development.

Also, 55% of respondents say they want to move to a different position within the same company. People want to stay, but only if their assignments don't stay the same. If you haven't already done so, it's time to think about your internal mobility path.

With the development of digital training and the introduction of the personal training account, it's easier to acquire new knowledge. Employees are more involved in their own career paths, but this should not detract from the company's ability to help them think about their future.

4 – Spreading the corporate culture to convince your team to stay by your side

Since the fall of 2022, we have been hearing a lot about the "quiet quitting" phenomenon. This trend affects unmotivated employees who are less involved in their jobs. We do our tasks, but not more than we are asked to do. And of course, we forget about overtime.

To avoid this, you can develop a strong attachment to the company thanks to convivial moments between colleagues. Invite your employees to a team building or a company seminar to share your ambitions and values. Or organize group activities to encourage interaction. Offering a break in an atypical setting also reinforces the employee experience.

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Compensation, training, corporate culture, work/life balance: these components allow you to better understand how to retain your employees. A too high turnover is not good for the employer's image and could make the candidates likely to join your company doubt. Our advice: regularly measure the retention rate of your employees.