How do companies retain good talent during a pandemic?

Tips on retaining talent during a pandemic 2021

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Shifts in the way we work are likely to continue as employers move a growing portion of their employees to more flexible models. Employees who feel care will also give in return. 2020 was one of the most productive years for some of these organisations.

Boston Consultancy has done research on what 12,000 employers across the US, Germany and India have to say about remote working. They have said that these individuals have maintained or even improved their productivity during the pandemic.

Actions needed

Remote working will continue to explode as more people want to operate remotely and more jobs are able to be done that way. What can we do to keep this good habit going.

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BUILD TRUST

Ironically, the thing holding back remote working in most companies starts and ends with trust. How can we trust people to do the work the need to do when we can’t keep our eyes on them every second of the day? Remote working begins with an assumed level of trust and autonomy that the people you hire possess the capability and mentality to get their work done. The fact is if you can't trust your team you shouldn’t have hired them in the first place. Employees who show that they trust their employees will get that back in return.

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FLEXIBILITY

Cheaper fast fiber broadband effectively means that any of the 255m desk jobs globally could be a remote role. This means that companies are now in a position, if they choose, to give any worker the flexibility of whether they want to do their job remotely or stick to an office. When the whole world was faced with a pandemic, employee focus shifted to their inner circle of friends and family. Those organisations that understood their struggles and empathised got much more in return.

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APPRECIATION

A small token of appreciation goes a long way. In one employee happiness survey, 45% of respondents even said they believe appreciation gifts reflect their value at a company. Some companies sent their employees simple, affordable gifts like Activity tracker wristband, Blue light glasses, Bluetooth speakers, wireless earbuds, personalised rubber stamp to name a few. They’re more than just material token; they’re ways to express gratitude and make employees feel valued. 

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BENEFITS

Look into improvising your company benefits to suit the needs of the time. Include medical and insurance coverage for those who are at risk during this Pandemic. Give them family care leave when they are affected by a close family succumbing to it. Create an environment when they can work around situations like this. Encourage them to take the medical rest they are instructed to abide by the doctors. All of these go a long way in the process of retaining talent.

UPSKILL

Train — Relearn — Grow. Share resources within the organisation where everyone can learn from. Build a strong learning culture so that everyone is growing within their role and learning new skills and in return upgrading and adapting to working with change. Invest in your employees’ training with time and resources, which will add value to their current role and help in their career path.