What is Employee Retention?

Employee retention means keeping your team members for a longer period. It involves using different strategies to reduce employee turnover and build a stable workforce. 

Some examples of the employee retention tactics are… 

  • Improving the onboarding process
  • Supporting work-life balance
  • Offering compensation and benefits
  • Flexible work hours
  • Building employee engagement
  • Providing continuous feedback
  • Creating a positive work culture
  • Providing both professional and personal growth opportunities  

Why Employee Retention is Important?

Employee retention is important for various reasons. But here are the main reasons why you should consider retaining employees.

  1. It will help your organization to achieve sustainable growth and success. 
  2. Hiring is an investment but it’s an expensive investment. People retention is one of the most important cost-effective ways to build your business. 
  3. It saves you a lot of time. Because, you have to train the new employees AGAIN from the start. 
  4. A high turnover rate is not good for both your business and brand growth. 
  5. People leaving is a sign of a toxic work environment. Retaining the best talent will help in building a positive work culture.

Why do Employees Leave their Jobs? 

There can be various reasons why people leave their jobs. Here are the most common reasons. 

  • Lack of work-life balance

Lack of work-life balance will lead to excessive workload and cause burnout. 

  • Lack of Career development opportunities

People leave when they don’t have enough career advancement opportunities. 

  • Lack of recognition 

Lack of recognition and rewards makes people demotivated. 

  • Poor or Toxic work environment

The most common reason is a poor workplace culture. 

  • Less compensation benefits

When there is no career development and better compensation, people leave. 

  • Being disrespectful towards the employees

Feeling disrespected at work. Nobody likes to stay in a place where they are not respected. 

  • Less Salary 

A higher salary is as much as career development. When the salary expectations are not met, people leave.

  • Bad leaders and managers 

Bad managers play an important role in people leaving an organization. 

  • No training or flexible work hours or no proper Communication

Lack of training, lack of flexible work options, and poor communication are other reasons why people leave a company.  

  • Team conflict

Conflict with the team and peers can also be a reason a person leaves the organization.

Did you know? 
According to the reports from Gallup, 16% of people leave because of poor pay or benefits, 41% leave because of poor employee engagement and culture, and 28% leave because there is no work-life balance.

Benefits of Employee Retention

Employee Retention Benefits 

Employee retention not only benefits an organization but also the business owners. 

  1. It minimizes your hiring stress of constantly searching for and training new talent.  
  2. It frees up your time to focus on scaling the business rather than managing high turnover.  
  3. It helps the long-term employees understand your vision and work closely with you, strengthening trust.  
  4. It saves your personal funds from being drained on frequent recruitment and training costs.  
  5. Retained employees develop into reliable second-line leaders, allowing you to delegate confidently.  
  6. Employee retention activities help increase productivity. 

12 Best Employee Retention Strategies 

Employee retention strategies are certain activities or plans that will help an organization keep its employees, especially those who play important roles in the business. 

Here are some of the best retention strategies to help you retain the workforce and reduce turnover.   

  • Give them Career Development Opportunities

According to various reports, more than 90% of people want to continue working in a company if there are career advancement opportunities.  

You can check what are the areas or interests they have, and create a career growth plan aligning with their skills and interests. 

  • Recognize your Employee’s Efforts 

Always recognize your team member’s efforts and reward them. 

Recognition plays an important role in motivating employees to increase their productivity and results. They will stay in the organization for a long period of time. 

  • Improve the Company’s Culture

The major reason why nearly half of the people leave any organization is because they can’t tolerate the toxic culture. 

Create a positive work culture where they can express, collaborate and co-create without being biased or judged. 

  • Offer Flexible Work Hours 

By offering flexible work hours, you can make sure that your employees are not burnt out or overwhelmed to meet the deadlines. 

They can work at comfort and this will automatically increase productivity. But don’t forget to hold them accountable if anyone takes advantage of it. 

  • Improve the Onboarding Process

Society for Human Resource Management says that “76% of the companies are not onboarding their employees.” 

No matter how much you are spending on the recruitment process, if you don’t give a good onboarding experience you will lose the hire in just a month. 

  • Provide Consistent Feedback 

High-quality feedback is actionable, clear and relevant. 

If you offer consistent and relevant feedback to your employees, it will help them shape their skills and achieve their professional goals. 

It will help them understand their strengths and areas of improvement.  

  •  Create Training and Development Programs 

Training the current employees is both cost and time-efficient than hiring a new employee and then training them. Isn’t it?

Training your employees is an investment. It will enhance their capabilities and skills, feel valued, and they have job satisfaction. 

  • Prioritize Employee Retention

All these strategies won’t work if you don’t do them with the right intention. 

Always prioritize employee engagement and people retention in your mind while creating a system and process for your business. This will help in building leaders who align with the purpose.  

  • Encourage Open Communication

Having open communication doesn’t mean just among the team members. 

Open communication between the employees and the management is important. Because the employees feel a sense of belonging where their insights and ideas matter. 

  • Provide Job Perks 

Even though this fact is amazing, many women couldn’t continue their jobs after childbirth. In these cases, you can provide childcare programmes and wellness programs. 

In India, out of the total women, 19.7% of them are self-employed, 6.8% are engaged as “casual labour” and 5.3% are “Regular wage/salaried employees”. (Source: Directorate General of Employment)

  • Mentorship Programs 

People are different and their needs and speed of improvement are also different. 

Offering mentorship programs can help employees grow in specific areas. Individual attention is given to them so they want to stay in a workplace where there is a mentor to guide them. 

  • Support Your Employee’s Wellbeing 

“If you take care of your employees, they will take care of your business.”

Support your employees to have good mental, physical and financial health. Doing this will help in the long-term employment of your team.

Retention Strategies for Poor Performers

  • Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs)

For poor performers, begin with a transparent and constructive approach by implementing a Performance Improvement Plan. 

Clearly outline expectations, specific areas for improvement, and deadlines for progress. 

Provide ongoing support through regular check-ins and guidance, ensuring they feel supported rather than penalized. 

  • Focused Mentoring and Training

Some poor performers struggle due to a lack of skills or confidence. Pair them with mentors who can provide personalized guidance and training to address their challenges. 

Offer access to foundational workshops or e-learning programs tailored to their needs. 

Creating a supportive environment can motivate them to improve and reduce feelings of isolation or inadequacy.

  • Reassessing Role Alignment 

Sometimes poor performance stems from a mismatch between an employee’s strengths and their current role. 

Evaluate their abilities and consider whether a different position or responsibility might better suit their skills. 

Transitioning them to a more fitting role, accompanied by clear expectations and additional support, can lead to better outcomes for both the employee and the organization.

HR Retention Strategies for Management

  1. Align their financial rewards with the company’s success to create a vested interest in long-term growth.
  2. Provide personalized coaching to enhance their leadership capabilities and career satisfaction.
  3. Involve them in shaping the company’s vision and strategic direction to make them feel integral to the organization.
  4. Offer sabbaticals or wellness programs tailored for high-stress leadership roles to prevent burnout.
  5. Publicly recognize their contributions and give them autonomy to lead and innovate without micromanagement.

HR Retention Strategies for Managers/Team Leaders

  1. Offer training to enhance their management skills and prepare them for future leadership roles.
  2. Tie bonuses or rewards to team performance, making their success directly rewarding.
  3. Allow them to make key decisions independently to build trust and accountability.
  4. Map out pathways for their growth within the company to keep them motivated.
  5. Conduct check-ins to address challenges, provide feedback, and reinforce their importance to the company.

Retention in Human Resource Management

  1. Support certifications and industry training, like SHRM or CIPD, to keep them updated and motivated.
  2. Equip them with advanced HR software to ease the workload and improve efficiency.
  3. Acknowledge their efforts in maintaining employee satisfaction and resolving workplace challenges.
  4. Involve HR in long-term planning, showcasing their critical role in achieving organizational goals.
  5. Provide access to mental health resources and ensure manageable workloads to prevent burnout.

Examples of Talent Retention Strategy 

Example 1 – Google – Investing in Employee Well-being

  • Initiatives: Free meals, nap pods, on-site gyms, and the “20% Time” policy for personal projects.
  • Career Development: Leadership training programs and mentorship initiatives.

Results

  1. Google’s voluntary turnover rate is just 3.2%, compared to the tech industry average of 13.2% (LinkedIn Workforce Report).
  2. The company has consistently ranked in the top 3 of Fortune’s “Best Companies to Work For.”

Example 2 – Zappos: Culture-First Approach

  • Unique Policy: Offers $2,000 to new hires to quit if they feel the job isn’t fit, ensuring only motivated employees stay.
  • Workplace Culture: Promotes core values like fun and customer obsession.

Results

  1. Reduced turnover rate to less than 20% in the retail industry, where the average is over 60%.
  2. Increased employee engagement scores by over 80%, as reported in internal surveys.

Example 3 – Netflix: Freedom and Responsibility

  1. Policies: Unlimited vacation time, autonomy in decision-making, and continuous feedback sessions instead of annual reviews.
  2. Pay Transparency: Netflix openly shares salary bands to ensure equity and satisfaction.

Results

  1. The retention rate is 85%, compared to the media industry average of 71% (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
  2. Employees report a 95% satisfaction rate with the company’s culture and work-life balance (Glassdoor).

Foundations of Talent Retention 

Here are the 5 Cs to retain your employees…

 

  1. Clarity in Communication 

To retain employees, provide clarity in these areas:

  • Vision: A long-term direction for your business that inspires your team.
  • Business Goals: Short-term objectives (1-2 years) that guide daily efforts.
  • Systems: Defined processes to achieve goals effectively.
  • Roles: Communicate transparently about the responsibilities and expectations of every individual.

Employees thrive in workplaces where they understand the purpose, goals, and their role in the organization.

  1. Connection

Build employee engagement and deeper connections by understanding their personal goals and aspirations:

  • Ask about their short-term, medium-term, and long-term life objectives.
  • Align their personal goals with their career growth in the organization.
  • Factilitate conversations that help them discover their purpose and stay motivated.

Genuine care builds strong bonds between the team and leadership.

Celebrating and recognizing your team will help you retain talent in your organization.

  1. Career Growth

Create a pathway for professional growth:

  • Define what the “next level” looks like within your business.
  • Clarify the skills, knowledge, and milestones needed for promotions.
  • Align their growth with your business’s scalability and profitability plans.

Employees stay engaged when they see a clear future within the company.

  1. Celebration 

Recognize and reward contributions to boost morale. Competitive compensation, benefits and fair pay encourage your employees to stay. 

These are some of the fundamentals of retaining the workforce.  

  • Celebrate small victories to create an environment of positivity.
  • Acknowledge achievements through daily gestures (like a “good job”) and monthly rewards.
  • Introduce compensation policies and bonuses. 
  • Avoid the mindset of delaying happiness until major milestones are reached.

Consistent appreciation builds loyalty and encourages better performance.

  1. Care 

Adopt the mindset of a mentor rather than a manager or boss:

  • Care about employees’ growth, learning, and well-being.
  • Provide continuous feedback to help them improve, not just to achieve results for the organization.
  • Show genuine interest in their development as individuals. Creating a culture where they can balance work and life can make a huge difference for you and them. 

When employees feel cared for, they reciprocate with commitment and loyalty.

Employee Engagement and Retention Activities

Having an employee retention plan in hand will help business owners in effective staff retention. 

This simple retention activity checklist will ensure your team feels valued, engaged, and excited to be part of your company!

  1. Host a fun and interactive onboarding session for new hires.  
  2. Celebrate birthdays and work anniversaries with small surprises.  
  3. Organize weekly team-building activities or games.  
  4. Create a “Wall of Fame” to highlight employee achievements.  
  5. Provide flexible work hours or hybrid work options.  
  6. Offer online learning access for skill development.  
  7. Schedule regular one-on-one feedback sessions.  
  8. Start a mentorship program to guide career growth.  
  9. Reward employees with gift cards or thank-you notes for great work.  
  10. Host monthly lunch-and-learn sessions for knowledge sharing.  
  11. Organize office contests like “Best Desk Decor” or trivia challenges.  
  12. Plan quarterly team outings or off-site retreats.  
  13. Launch a wellness program with yoga or fitness classes.  
  14. Offer paid volunteer days for employees to give back.  
  15. Celebrate small wins with shout-outs in team meetings.  
  16. Set up a chill zone with games and comfy seating.  
  17. Host “Fun Fridays” with activities like karaoke or movie marathons.  
  18. Create an anonymous suggestion box for honest feedback.  
  19. Recognize top performers with personalized awards.  
  20. Share customer success stories to show employees their impact.  
  21. Provide mental health resources and support.  
  22. Offer surprise “Thank You” days off for outstanding contributions.  
  23. Involve employees in brainstorming sessions for company decisions.  
  24. Celebrate festivals with themed decorations and potlucks.  
  25. Organize quarterly skill workshops to boost their career growth. 

Employee retention formula for business owners 

Employee retention rate is the parameter with which an organization’s efforts to retain its best employees can be calculated. 

It also refers to the percentage that indicates the employee turnover rate in a specific period.  

Employee retention rate can be calculated using the formula. 

(Total no. of employees remaining at the end of a particular period / Total no. of employees at the start of a particular period) x 100

Employee retention formula

Steps to Calculate the Employee Retention Rate 

  1. First clearly define the period. This will help you in making the tracking process clear. 
  2. Note down the total number of employees at the start of the year. 
  3. Check and determine the number of employees who stayed at the end of the same year. 
  4. Now, use the formula to calculate your retention rate. 
  5. Compare your results with the industry average and create an employee retention plan based on results. 

What is a good employee retention rate? 

A good employee retention rate is 90% or above. 

Even though this may vary across a few industries, every organization should try to keep their employee turnover rate at 10% or below that. 

Example to calculate the retention rate

Here is a simple example to calculate the employee retention rate using the formula:

A small retail store had 50 employees at the start of the year. By the end of the year, 45 employees were still working.

Now, let’s apply the formula.

Total number of employees = 50 

Total number of employees remaining at the end = 45 

45/50×100 = 90

Thus, the Retention Rate is 90%.

If your best people keep leaving, it’s not just frustrating… It’s holding back your business growth.

The P.A.C.E Program helps you fix what’s not working and grow your business with clarity.

Why You Should Focus on Workforce Retention This Year?

Focusing on workforce retention is key this year to save costs and improve productivity.

Here are a few recent stats to guide your retention efforts.

  1. High Cost of Employee Turnover

Replacing an employee costs 50-200% of their annual salary, depending on the role. (Source: Gallup, 2023)

  1. Recognition Reduces Turnover

Employees who feel recognized are 45% less likely to leave their jobs within two years. (Source: Gallup, 2024)

  1. Job-Hopping on the Rise

51% of employees are actively seeking or open to new job opportunities. (Source: Runn.io, 2024)

  1. Work-Life Balance is a Top Priority

58% of workers cite work-life balance as a critical factor in staying with a company. (Source: Statista, 2024)

  1. Retention Improves Productivity

Companies with high employee retention rates see 20% higher productivity compared to those with high turnover. (Source: PeopleKeep, 2024)

Final Thoughts 

Will people leave your company even after all this? The hard truth is. “Yes”! But we will at least make sure we retain the best players and that your employees think twice before leaving.

I hope that these employee retention strategies will help you to do that & stay updated by reading more business blogs