How To Keep Your Employees

Finding good employees is hard, but keeping good employees can be even harder. Losing key employees can be devastating to a business owner. Quite a bit of time, effort, and even money goes into training employees, and replacing an employee means that you have to face that expense - in both time and money - once again. Here are some tips on how to keep your employees.

1. Treat your employees as you wish to be treated - with respect. Never embarrass an employee in front of other staff or customers. If an employee does something wrong, the issue should be addressed in private, and the employee should still be treated with respect.

2. Listen to your employees. Often, employees are able to see problems in the business that the business owner does not see. They can also come up with ways to make the business more efficient. When an employee makes a suggestion, take it seriously and let the employee know that you will think about it. If you implement their ideas, make sure that you give them credit for it, and reward them appropriately.

3. Keep your employees motivated with incentives, bonuses, and raises. Schedule job performance reviews, and give raises to those employees who are earning them. Consider giving Christmas bonuses, and other bonuses throughout the year as well. You can even hold contests for your employees, offering a paid vacation or concert tickets to the employee who makes the most sales during a given time period.

4. Promote from inside your company if possible. Nothing angers an employee more than being forced to train the person who is to be their supervisor. When upper level positions open up, look at your existing employees for a replacement, and move everyone currently employed with you up in ranks. Hire a new person to fill the lowest ranking job.

5. Offer benefits. Health benefits are one of the two main reasons people stay at their jobs for long periods of time. The other reason is their salary. Try to find a good group health insurance plan that both you and your employees can afford. Also, work with your accountant to set up retirement fund benefits for your employees.

6. Know the employment laws in your state. Make sure that you are providing your employees with the proper number of breaks and at least the minimum required time for breaks and lunches. Ensure that your employees are properly paid for overtime hours.

7. Get to know your employees, but keep the line between employee and employer defined at the same time. You can take the time to inquire after an employee’s family, or a personal situation that you knew they had, without crossing the line. This will let your employees know that you care about their well-being. They will be grateful if you are able to help out with their personal situations.

8. Put yourself in your employees' shoes. If work is not being completed in a timely manner, instead of reprimanding the employee find out what is wrong. Is the employee overloaded? Do they not understand the protocol? If need be, spend a day working side-by-side with the employee to find out what is going on.

9. Plan special events for your employees. Christmas parties, company picnics, business anniversary parties, and other events are often great motivators for employees. Remember their birthdays as well and give them the day off - with pay.

10. If possible, give your employees an interest in your business. Work with your accountant and offer stock options. Owning a piece of the business - no matter how small - gives employees a reason to do a better job, and to stay with the company longer.

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