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Dear Workforce How Do We Prove That Lowering Turnover Benefits the Company

By Staff Report

Nov. 23, 2005

Dear Vexed:


Your management team recognizes the financial impact of high turnover, but line employees experience it firsthand on a daily basis in the form of inexperienced co-workers, accidents and lower-than-expected quality and productivity. Persuade management to demonstrate a commitment to lowering turnover by:


  • Establishing a selection policy and practice that makes it extremely difficult to be hired by your organization.


  • Setting turnover goals for the company and each manager, and include it as an essential portion of the managers’ performance assessments.


  • Communicating turnover rates annually.


  • Providing orientation to new employees, including clearly defined performance expectations, and training/development of skills for continued employment.


To demonstrate that low turnover benefits both management and staff employees:


  • Solicit input from all employees to isolate the reasons why turnover rates are high. Conduct surveys and form focus groups that include a cross section of your workforce.


  • If you compensate employees who refer applicants who are subsequently hired, delay the reward until the new employee completes at least one full year of service.


  • Create ways to celebrate decreased turnover by department, being sure to reward both managers and employees.


  • Celebrate continued service of employees with their co-workers, possibly including their families.


SOURCE: Lonnie Harvey Jr., SPHR, president, the JESCLON Group Inc., Rock Hill, South Carolina, Feb. 14, 2005


LEARN MORE:They’re Hired: Now the Real Recruiting Begins. Also:155 other items about retention.


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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