The critical role of HR in boosting retention

And why HR makes all the difference

HR are the architects of retention

HR professionals are the architects of retention. From onboarding to exit interviews, they shape the employee experience.

Why HR has a seat at the table

Shapes every touchpoint from onboarding to exit
Turns policies into people-first experiences
Provides data-driven insight to leaders

HR strategies to boost employee experience

Strong onboarding

The first few weeks shape the whole employee experience.
A clear, welcoming and well-planned induction helps people settle in, feel connected and start off on the right foot.

Line manager capability

Managers have a direct impact on day-to-day experience.
Training them to communicate well, lead with empathy and support development will boost both engagement and retention.

Work-life balance

Freedom to adjust working hours around their home life can increase employee motivation and satisfaction levels.
Flexibility doesn’t have to be a reduction in normal working hours. It may also be:
- A change in start and finish times
- Longer lunch breaks
- A change in the day-to-day business tasks.

HR strategies to boost employee experience

Culture

Having a strong set of values that your employees can truly buy into.
Conducting employee surveys allows you to capture your employees’ thoughts. Use this information to adapt your values.
Employee surveys will also enable you to find out if employees are dissatisfied and offer solutions to any issues.

Clear path of progression

If employees are unable to see a clear career path they’ll be tempted to look elsewhere.
Encourage employees to develop Personal Development Plans and support them to achieve them.
Consider offering support to take on additional training or spend time in other departments.
Where promotions are not feasible, look for sideways moves that allow employees to gain different development experiences.

Summary

In summary having a retention strategy in place enables you to:

Save on costs

Keeping your skilled employees means you don’t have to spend more money (and time) on getting new people into the business.

Increase productivity

Experienced employees are usually more efficient at their work and used to your processes and tools, boosting productivity.

Improved customer experience

Your employees can provide a consistent experience to customers and support them with a greater depth of knowledge.