Takes more than cash to make good staff stay

Good employees are hard to find, and even harder to replace. So how do you keep the good ones? Is it money and bonuses? Funnily enough, they rank lower than you think.

Relations, recognition, pride, inclusion and career advancement rank higher. That all sounds very gracious, but let's take a closer look at these reasons.

GOOD COMPANY RELATIONS

Interest in staff's lives outside work goes down well - it shows you value what makes them whole. Interest in their families, hobbies, and their world outside the office, shows you care for them.

RECOGNITION OF ACHIEVEMENT

Acknowledgement of tasks, projects and work invigorates employees, and makes them feel like a part of the team.

OFFER FLEXIBLE HOURS

In a world where we're all on and contactable 24/7, the "9 to 5" concept has gone by the wayside, so provide options for staff who can manage their time and workload with flexible hours.

MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

If your organisation is active with the community in a positive way it gives staff the chance to shine in their community.

This is a great way to give employees pride in what they do and where they work.

KEEP STAFF INFORMED

Letting them know about what's happening in the business shows that you think they are a valuable part of the team and important to its success. The upside for the organisation is that staff will go the extra mile for you over and over again.

Remember we live in a technological age that is moving faster than we could have ever imagined. Most employees have Facebook, LinkedIn and Google accounts, where these social media sites are equipped with software so advanced that they can automatically search for candidates on behalf of other "employers". The "good ones" are hard to find, so plan to keep as many of them as you can.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT

Some companies in New Zealand and around the world have internal training and education programmes, which means they can promote from within the organisation, thereby rewarding staff who embrace the further education they provide.

REGULAR REVIEWS

Before we start thinking I'm getting all formal, relax. Regular reviews can take place over a cup of coffee around the corner from the office. Doing it like this allows everyone to relax a little more and essentially speak freely about how things are. A big plus for employees.

Mark Doyle, is client services manager for Shamrock Recruitment Group in Wellington, which caters to recruitment needs for both client and candidate and specialises in commercial and executive recruitment and psychometric assessment services. See www.srg.co.nz