Employee retention is a complex puzzle that requires a multi-faceted approach. By providing a comfortable and safe workspace, creating autonomy for employees, celebrating their achievements, providing opportunities for growth and development, and fostering a positive company culture, you can create an environment where employees feel valued and supported, leading to increased loyalty and long-term commitment. Here are some key strategies to achieve these goals:
1. Make them comfortable.
According to Occupational Health & Safety Magazine, extreme heat "can reduce the energy, focus and passion employees can dedicate to their tasks." Discomfort that crosses dangerously with workplace safety in extreme climates needs to be addressed by facility leaders and planned for ahead of the seasonal changes.
Employee retention is a crucial aspect of any successful business. Still, creating a workplace where employees feel a sense of loyalty and are motivated to advance their careers can be challenging. It requires a combination of factors, including a comfortable and safe workspace, opportunities for growth and development, and a positive company culture.
At Cambridge, we approach every initiative with a lean mindset, which means eliminating waste and improving quality through continuous improvement. This approach has proven to positively affect both our people and our product, and we are always looking for new ways to improve our practices.
In this blog, we'll share some of the strategies that have worked for us, and we hope they'll be helpful for your business as well. Whether you're facing a hiring shortage or not, employee retention is critical for the long-term success of your company.
Providing a healthier and more comfortable workspace for your employees is a conversation we have frequently with our project leaders – but to be authentic, we needed to be sure that we were holding ourselves accountable. St. Louis, where our headquarters are, is known for its heat and humidity, and our employees could certainly feel the effects. We couldn't figure out the best path to fix that until we started working closer to evaporative cooling technology that is designed for high-bay buildings like ours. Now that we've designed, manufactured, and installed a two-stage direct and indirect cooling unit for our building, there is a great sense of relief knowing that our employees will have a much more enjoyable working environment when the warmer months are back.
In addition to addressing extreme heat and discomfort, another crucial aspect of creating a healthier and more comfortable workspace is ensuring good indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality can have a significant impact on employee health, well-being, productivity, and inevitably, their retention.
Indoor air pollutants, such as dust, allergens, smog, and toxins, can accumulate in enclosed spaces and contribute to various health issues. These pollutants can cause respiratory problems, allergies, headaches, fatigue, and other symptoms that can significantly hinder employees' focus and performance.
To tackle this challenge, facility leaders should consider implementing strategies that not only improve indoor air quality but also demonstrates how much you value your staff. This can involve things like regular cleaning and maintenance of ventilation systems, installing high-efficiency air filters, or monitoring air quality parameters, but it might also include reevaluating your systems in place. We specialize in helping facility leaders just like you address these issues head-on. Some of our solutions are available include our M-Series make-up air and our ESC-Series evaporative cooling unit.
By prioritizing indoor air quality, businesses can create a work environment that not only addresses extreme heat but also supports the overall well-being and productivity of their employees. Providing clean and fresh air can contribute to a more enjoyable working environment and help employees feel energized, focused, and motivated throughout the year.
2. Create autonomy to better their workplaces.
It's time to abandon top-down directives that could rely on inefficient, miscalculated or unnecessary processes. A lean culture depends on each employee's genius to be an expert in their own processes workspace and to be able to improve upon them as they see fit.
Imagine being encouraged to fix a process or a process that has been bugging you. Is there a better way to log that test? Is there too much back-and-forth motion between lines? Your employees probably already know a better way to do things; allow them to implement change (with the understanding that quality and safety must be maintained), and everyone will see the reward.
The continuous improvement that comes from having ownership over processes and workspace will not only provide better quality to your customers but will create a higher satisfaction to your workers.
3. Celebrate them.
It's easy to get caught up in deadlines, budgets, and day-to-day crises - so much so that you forget to notice the achievements your team has made. Going too long without pausing to celebrate the progress made, the hard work of your employees, and the milestones passed might make you lose sight of what you've accomplished and how much hard work your team put in to get there.
4. Provide opportunities for growth and development.
One of the main reasons employees leave their jobs is because they feel stuck in their current position without opportunities for advancement. It's important to provide employees with opportunities for growth and development within the company.
This can be accomplished through various means, such as providing training programs, offering mentorship opportunities, or even just regularly meeting with employees to discuss their career goals and aspirations. By investing in your employee's professional growth and development, you not only increase their job satisfaction and loyalty but also help to build a more skilled and knowledgeable workforce.
In addition, providing opportunities for growth and development can also benefit your company as a whole. By nurturing and promoting talent from within, you create a culture of excellence that attracts other top performers and helps to build a strong reputation in your industry.
5. Foster a positive company culture.
Creating a positive company culture is essential for retaining employees. A company culture that values teamwork, communication, and mutual respect can go a long way in creating a workplace where employees feel valued and supported.
Some ways to foster a positive company culture include:
- Encouraging open communication between employees and management
- Providing opportunities for team building and social activities
- Creating a sense of shared purpose and mission within the company
- Recognizing and rewarding employees for their contributions
- Prioritizing work-life balance and employee well-being
By cultivating a positive company culture, you can create a workplace that employees are proud to be a part of and are more likely to stay with for the long term.
Incorporating these strategies into your workplace can significantly improve employee retention and create a thriving company culture. By investing in your employees' well-being, growth, and job satisfaction, you cultivate an environment where they feel valued and motivated to contribute their best. We understand the importance of these factors and continually strive to enhance our practices. If you're interested in learning more about our approach to employee retention and lean practices, we invite you to join us for a lean tour.