If you feel like your hiring process consists of a revolving door of new hires coming in and out, then you may want to stop the insanity and consider focusing on employee retention. According to Glassdoor, the average company in the US spends about $4,000 to hire a new employee. They also note it can take up to 52 days to fill a position. So not only does it make good business sense to hire and then KEEP the good people you’ve trained, but you also end up with improved morale across the board. Besides, there’s so much competition for good help these days, keeping good employees is a matter of survival for many businesses.

How to keep good people
Countless HR surveys over the years have shown that pay and benefits are important but ranking even higher is the need for appreciation and a sense of belonging on the job. And how do you foster those feelings with your employees? One or more employee retention campaigns will go a long way to building that culture in your business. Below are six campaign opportunities. One or more are sure to fit your situation:

On-Boarding
Even BEFORE your new employee starts, send a swag box to their home to make them feel extra welcome. Apparel like T-shirts, polos, and hoodies are certainly great candidates for a new-hire package. But don’t forget other options like desk accessories, gourmet snacks (we love cookies and chocolate), water bottles, coffee, and technology items such as a carrying case or backpack for the company-issued laptop. Personalized stationery, pens, and a journal round out the list of most popular items. But one of the most important items to include is a hand-written note warmly welcoming your new hire to the company.

Service Anniversary
Thank your staff for their loyalty with a token of your gratitude. Do you have a loyal employee who’s been with you for 10, 15, 20 years or more? One of our clients, a bakery, presented a chef’s coat with the person’s name embroidered on it. It not only says “we appreciate you” to that person, but telegraphs to the entire staff you care. Couple it with a grand presentation and/or lunch in front of the whole team to make it a memorable event. That’ll have the rest of the staff looking forward for their time in the spotlight!

Achievement
When the team reaches a big goal, celebrate their success. If you’ve won a big contract or hit a major milestone, why not thank the entire team for their contribution to the big achievement. It says “we couldn’t have done it without you!” Everyone wants to be part of a winning team. And a celebration capped with mementos of the occasion such as etched bottles of wine, crystal awards, shirts, or even a simple assortment of sweets makes success that much more delightful.

Appreciation
Don’t forget to say “Thank You” for a job well done! Perhaps you are in the middle of a project and you haven’t hit that milestone yet. But you want to give your team the thanks they deserve for working late and giving it their all. Show your appreciation with a break from the craziness! Have pizza delivered and pair it with a water bottle, backpack, or snack.

Work From Home
When staff can’t be in the office, let them know they’re not forgotten! Working remote is the new norm. Although many will be returning to the office, many will remain at home. Some people admit to feeling left out, under-appreciated, or simply forgotten because they don’t come into the office each day. It’s important to keep morale high, and to foster a sense of team and belonging. Logoed apparel, totes, and office items keep the brand front and center, while telling employees you appreciate them. And who wouldn’t like to get a Care Package from the office?

Personal Development
Encourage your team’s creativity with some inspiration. If you have a big rollout, a new training initiative, or want to foster creativity within the team, think about ways to get the creative juices flowing with pens and journals. The good news is – you can share any extras with clients!

We hope these have sparked some ideas for you and your business. As always, we’d be happy to design an employee retention program specifically for you. Simply give us a call – we’re here to help!