How to Attract and Retain Employees During The Great Resignation
Short answer: Appreciation. 3 strategies for building a culture of recognition that helps employees want to come and stay.
Finding and keeping talented employees—it’s an ongoing charge for HR leaders that’s directly supported by a strong company culture. In the best of times, it’s important to embed employee recognition for a thriving company culture. In more challenging times, it’s an absolute necessity. The Covid-19 pandemic helped create a perfect storm where employees became more isolated, less connected, and felt less appreciated.
One observation after a year of pandemic underscores the need for recognition: “Many experts believe appreciation will become increasingly important. The wide acceptance of remote work has created a workforce that can work from anywhere, opening up new job opportunities that will test employee loyalty.”1 Loyalty is certainly being tested. And it will continue to be tested.
“The Covid-19 pandemic helped create a perfect storm where employees became more isolated, less connected, and felt less appreciated.”
An essential element: a culture of appreciation
What are the aspects of workplace culture that most influence potential employees? Many leaders might point to a culture of flexibility, where outcome is more important than a work schedule. Some may seek a culture of learning, where opportunities for education and skill development rank high on the list. Still others might favor a solid work/life balance or an inclusive environment as the most important culture traits.
Just as critical, what are the cultural elements that keep employees happy in their workplaces? What are the qualities employees point to most as the reason they enjoy working for their organization?
If you’re an HR executive, your goal is to build a company culture that’s attractive to employees—today and in the years to come. No matter how you answer either question, one part of a company’s culture remains essential to the mix: a culture of appreciation.