|
An American Crisis:
Attracting, Retaining & Motivating Employees
By Don
Grimme, Co-founder GHR
Training Solutions
There indeed is a dangerous crisis in
America today. It has nothing to do with global warming or the latest computer
virus. Rather, we're referring to the alarmingly diminishing ability of
organizations - in every sector of our society - to survive.
At a time of intense global
competition, most corporations, government agencies and non-profit associations
alike have exhausted whatever efficiency and cost-cutting improvements there
were to be extracted from reengineering and downsizing. And, many have found
that they have cut, not only the fat, but also much of their muscle (or even
lifeblood), that is - their best employees.
However, as they now look to replenish,
preserve & nourish this blood & muscle, they are faced with a Generation
X work force 40% smaller (and much more demanding) than the Baby Boomers - and
the lowest unemployment rate in 30 years!
Also, employee loyalty is down, way
down. According to a 1998 survey conducted by Sibson & Company, 55% of
employees plan to quit or think often of quitting. In fact, the most frequently
asked question put to the Society of Human Resource Management is: "How can
we keep talent from jumping to our competitors?"
Fortunately, every crisis contains in
it - not only danger - but also opportunity. This article shares with you the
secret to transforming this dangerous crisis into an opportunity for your
organization to flourish!
Based on our research and work with
employers across the country, we have identified the distinguishing traits of
organizations that attract, retain and motivate the best employees. In a
nutshell:
- The pay ain't bad
- And they treat employees GREAT!
Recent landmark studies confirm what
theoreticians and management gurus such as Abraham Maslow, Frederick Hertzberg
and Peter Drucker - have maintained for decades:
- Money is a necessary - but not
sufficient condition - to attract, retain and motivate good employees. You
and I will go to work for a paycheck and benefits plan. But we won't really
do work (at least our best work), unless something else is present.
- It is the quality of the work itself
and of our relationships with others at work - that draws us to the best
organizations and keeps us there, performing at peak effectiveness.
Recently, the Families and Work
Institute published the National Study of the Changing Workforce - the most
comprehensive research ever conducted in this area. They found that, while
Earnings & Benefits have only a 2% impact on job Satisfaction, Job Quality
and Workplace Support have a combined 70% impact. That's a 35 times greater bang
for the buck! (Though, in the case of Job Quality and Workplace Support, it's an
intangible, symbolic "buck".)
And, the findings were similar for
factors impacting: Employee Loyalty, Retention and Performance. For Performance,
however, Job Demands (that is stress factors such as overtime and deadlines)
have a negative impact - comparable to the positive impact of either Job Quality
or Workplace Support.
But let's suppose that employee
retention is not a problem for your organization ... and you're not convinced
that employee satisfaction has much impact on the bottom line. Then consider
this. A recent survey conducted by the Gallup organization researched the Impact
of Employee Attitudes on Business Outcomes. They found that organizations, where
employees have above average attitudes toward their work (that is, high employee
satisfaction), have:
- 38% higher customer satisfaction
scores
- 22% higher productivity, and
- 27% higher profits!
Satisfying employees, by ensuring that
they have meaningful work and are treated well, is not only a nice thing to do;
it makes good business sense.
So, if you want to transform the danger
into an opportunity for your organization to flourish - and make money - pay
your employees with more than just money!
For specific ways to "treat
employees great", see the sidebar: Grimme's Top 10 Tips to Attract, Retain
& Motivate Employees.
Don Grimme is one America's leading
training experts and authorities on reducing turnover and attracting excellent
job candidates. For information on his firm, GHR Training Solutions, visit http://www.GHR-Training.com.
|