Dear Workforce How Are Companies Keeping Call Center Agents

Dear Calls Keep Coming:

There are numerous best practices that companies are undertaking to retain their top contact center staff.

Lately, companies have begun placing more emphasis on better hiring practices, coaching and training (for both agents and supervisors). They’ve also begun clarifying career paths for their employees, along with giving customers an opportunity to evaluate their experiences with call center staff. The feedback from this latter initiative is then shared with call center agents to help them build an emotional connection to both the company and its customers.

Companies are adopting approaches that give them more direct and immediate feedback from customers. Not only does this provide positive reinforcement from customers, but it also enables companies to pinpoint improvements that create job validation and satisfaction for employees.

Historically, contact centers have been viewed as production facilities and cost operations. This view is changing, and more companies are focusing on customers and on retention efforts. At the heart of these efforts is a solidly working contact center.

SOURCE: Jim Rembach, Metrics, Sterling, Virginia, Dec. 14, 2005.

LEARN MORE: Call Centers Find Savings Begin at Home explores the challenges companies face when using agents who work from home. Also, a chart listing skills required of call center supervisors

The information contained in this article is intended to provide useful information on the topic covered, but should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion. Also remember that state laws may differ from the federal law.

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