Why Your Workforce Isn't Happy

Why Can Companies Even With Essentially Unlimited Resources Have Retention Issues?

You're probably putting the attention in the wrong areas..

I recently had a corporate client looking to move resources from one area to another and it didn't make sense why. So I began to dig for answers to get the whole picture. They thought that moving the same stuff they had into different areas would help with turnover. My red flag came when I saw they had substantial money already invested and they wanted to put even more into it. This seemed like sending more #welders to the #Titanic to fix the gash that saw already half the ship under water. You're not only adding weight to the problem, but you're completely overlooking the issue.

Employee Turnover

#Employeeturnover is a significant challenge for many #companies, and it's not just about losing valuable #staff, it's also about losing #team members that have become part of the #companyculture and spirit. Sadly, recent studies show that there are many reasons why companies struggle to keep their staff #happy.

It's important for #businesses to recognise that employees want to feel #appreciated and #valued. According to a study by TINYpulse, a staggering 21% of employees don't feel valued at work. And that's just from the people who dared to talk about it! So the buffer to this statistic could be very substantial. Imagine putting your all into your job, only to feel ignored and unrecognised. It's #demotivating and disheartening, leading employees to seek alternative opportunities where they will feel appreciated. But the same applies here... you know, the "grass is greener".. because most companies have the same issues, more or less.

The Ages Old Communication Topic

#Communication is key in any #relationship, and this also applies to the employee-employer relationship. Employees need to know what's expected of them and be given #constructivefeedback to perform well. However, a Gallup study found that only 17% of employees feel they receive feedback that helps them improve. Communication breakdowns cause confusion and frustration, making employees feel unsupported and disengaged.

Work to Live, Don't Live to Work

Another factor that contributes to employee turnover is a lack of #work-#life #balance. Many employees are seeking flexible work arrangements that allow them to balance their personal and professional lives. In fact, a FlexJobs survey found that 82% of respondents would be more loyal to their employer if they had flexible work options. If employees feel like they're burning the candle at both ends, they can become burnt out and start seeking alternative opportunities that offer more balance.

In addition, a lack of #growth and #development opportunities can also contribute to employee turnover. Employees want to feel like they're progressing in their career and acquiring new #skills. However, when they feel stagnant, they can become demotivated and start looking for new job opportunities. A LinkedIn study found that 94% of employees would stay longer at a company if it invested in their career development.

And.. the bombshell: More Tech into HR and People Management is NOT a Solution

Interestingly, the hiring process may already bring someone down. How? By making them perform degrading #quizzes, #tests, and "personality tests" which ultimately, the vast majority of people I've interviewed, found completely misleading and degrading. Because it made them feel insecure of their true answers and only picked those that they hoped would increase their chances of feeling welcomed in the company. So, who is getting fooled here, really? Is our workforce built up of fake profiles, or manufactured profiles, like #instagram or something?

Folks, this is huge. Most #HR and #peopleoperations processes don't give the new potential employee a sense of coming to the right place and it seems that most HR's copy one another, sooner or later, making these processes the #statusquo, but in the meantime doing the wrong thing from a human standpoint. Status Quo does not mean it's correct. Ever heard of someone telling a friend to try the "xyz diet" because "everyone else" is doing it? Well, this extrapolates into every field you can imagine.

In conclusion, companies must understand that their staff is their greatest asset. By addressing issues like recognition, communication, work-life balance, and career development, businesses can increase employee retention and create a positive and productive work environment. Remember, happy employees equal happy businesses.