The Great Resignation is still going strong. A recent survey by McKinsey reveals that about 40% of people are unhappy at work and 2 out of 5 employees are thinking about leaving in the next 3-6 months. If you’re a business owner or you manage a team, this means you should be thinking about how you can inspire your top performers to stay engaged with your company.

While you may want to start by offering better-than-average salaries, there are many ways you can incentivize staffers to stay with you. Aimie Ye, SEO manager at GoCo, an HR software solution, rounded up some expert tips from HR professionals and business owners on how you can retain your best employees. We share her findings in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today.

1. Prioritize a work-life balance. Ye says this is one of the best and easiest ways to keep your top employees. Instead of trying to oversee every aspect of employees’ schedules, bosses should trust their teams will get their work done. Life happens outside the confines of a traditional workday, so give your employees room for balance.

2. Offer growth incentives. Many businesses offer financial and educational benefits to attract highly qualified workers. You can help ensure that your company is a desirable place to work by providing possibilities for professional growth and offering stretch jobs for employees to grow into, Ye says.

3. Provide ongoing training. Another strategy for retaining talent is to offer training beyond the onboarding process. These resources can help employees keep their skills current. An expert tip? Keep the classes short — about 30 minutes — so staffers can easily fit them into their schedule without falling behind in their work.

4. Hire well from the get-go. When you find the right people for your team from the very beginning, it can improve your retention rate down the line. Just be sure to stay current on industry compensation standards, Ye says, and structure your bonuses and benefits well.

5. Celebrate achievements often. Ye says it’s important to foster a culture of rewards and recommendation if you want to hang on to your employees. Give a shout-out to your team members for big and small accomplishments, and remember to celebrate promotions, employment anniversaries and birthdays.

6. Enhance mental health and wellness benefits. Ye notes that 4 in 10 adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression amid the pandemic, which is up from 2019. To retain your employees, consider offering a set number of mental health days in addition to PTO or sick leave. This can help staffers the break they need when they are going through a particularly stressful time.

7. Create a mentorship program. When you bring on new employees, match them up with a mentor. This can help both parties feel valued and more connected, which can help improve retention.

8. Remain transparent about your business. Being open and transparent with your team members about business stability reminds them of their importance in the success of the organization, Ye says. HR managers and leadership should take extra steps to keep employees informed on business plans.

Building and retaining a team of talented professionals is key to your organization’s success. Consider applying the strategies above to keep your top talent amid the ongoing Great Resignation.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Aimie Ye is SEO manager at GoCo, an HR software solution.