The top nine reasons why employees leave
Often when employees leave a firm, management tends to think that it is only for one reason: money. While it is true that remuneration plays a role in employee satisfaction, there are a host of other reasons why workers resign and move on to other companies.
1. Lack of recognition
Meet Jack. He does his work well, puts in long hours and is always coming up with suggestions about how the company’s performance could be improved. And yet, Jack is looking for another position. Why? He never gets any credit for what he does.
What can you do? It’s simple: show appreciation for your employees and the work they do. This can be done via formal and informal means, the latter of which might simply be saying “well done, Jack!” the next time you see him. Employees want to feel that their efforts are being noticed and that they are important to the company.
2. It’s just not fun
Seeing as people spend – at least – a third of their day at work, it is completely understandable that they would like to do so in a pleasant and interesting environment. However, if the highlight of the working day is the cleaners coming in to water the plants, you’ve got trouble.
What can you do? Make it fun to be at work. It doesn’t have to turn into a circus, but there is nothing wrong with celebrating successes and organising social gatherings on a regular basis.
3. A lack of learning opportunities
Research has shown that employees want to work in a stimulating environment. They want to be challenged. When the work becomes boring and repetitive, that’s when workers start looking around for other positions.
What can you do? Create a stimulating working environment and keep your employees engaged by setting them new challenges. Provide them with training in order to adopt new skills, which they can then implement in the workplace.
4. A lack of advancement opportunities
Employees like to know that there is room for them to grow and move forward within the company. If they notice that all senior opening positions are being filled from the outside, and that there are no systems in place for them to be promoted, they will start looking elsewhere.
What can you do? Ensure that you have a talent management system in place, which includes mentoring and coaching, to promote the careers of promising employees.
5. Lack of financial recognition
This is, of course, short for saying that your company does not pay well enough. Besides the financial implications, it should be noted that inadequate payment makes employees feel unappreciated.
What can you do? Compare your company’s salaries to the rest of the industry and make sure that you match up.
6. The employee-manager relationship is unsatisfactory
This is one of the most common reasons employees resign – they simply do not get on with their superiors.
What can you do? This problem can have a variety of causes but often you will find that it is the result of defective communication. It is imperative that management learn how to communicate openly with their employees.
7. A general lack of communication
Employees don’t like to be kept in the dark. In companies where there is a lack of feedback and information, you will find unhappy employees.
What can you do? Empower them with information. Take care to communicate the company’s vision as well as its long and short term goals, so that employees know what is expected of them. Provide regular feedback on your employees' performance and also be open to theirs, so that employees may become engaged in the company’s success.
8. The company set-up does not promote productiveness.
It is the responsibility of the firm to provide employees with the tools to do their jobs – and to do it well. Workers can’t be expected to be productive if they do not have the necessary resources, information and training. They can’t be expected to thrive if the company values speed more than it does quality and places too much pressure on employees, which causes stress.
What can you do? The answer lies in the description above – give them the tools they need to do their job.
9. The job is not what they expected
It is not uncommon for an employee to start a new job, only to find that it is not at all what they expected.
What can you do? Elevate your screening process. Compile up to date and very detailed job descriptions so that applicants can know exactly what the position entails.
Sources:
Three reasons employees leave – Brandon Gutman. www.imediaconnection.com
Why good employees leave – Louise Kursmark, www.career-advice.monster.com
The 7 hidden reasons employees leave – Leigh Branham