You put a lot of thought and effort into hiring the best people. But can you say the same about keeping them?

Employee retention is critical to a healthy, well-functioning business. That’s because employee turnover costs you — in terms of money, productivity and morale.

So how do you hang on to the good ones? Sure, there are some things you can’t control. But you have a larger influence than you may think.

Culture

While every company has a different culture — and every company has a different definition of culture — there is one element that is consistent in any successful business environment: a feeling of belonging.

As an employer, you can do several things to foster this feeling and build the company’s culture.

Clearly defined vision: Your vision for the company — where you want to go and what you want to do — should be known, and shared, by everyone on the team.  This gives them a sense of purpose.

Strong leadership: It’s been said employees don’t leave companies, they leave managers. Managers assign tasks. Leaders provide guidance, coaching, and when needed, they roll up their sleeves to help get the job done.

Thoughtfulness: Get to know your team personally. You can’t get involved in their private lives, of course, but you should know their likes, dislikes, goals and passions. This knowledge is vital when giving recognition. Thoughtfulness also means caring for their well-being. This can be demonstrated through the tools, programs and benefits you make available to them.

Professional Development

When people work hard, they want to know where that effort is taking them. And for many employees, professional growth is just as important as salary. In fact, in a 2012 study by Linkage, Inc., more than 40 percent of respondents said they’d consider leaving their present employer for another job with the same benefits — if that job provided better career development and greater challenges.

Many large companies have professionals on staff to help employees plot their career and identify opportunities. But for other companies, formal development programs can be a challenge.

Successful companies often follow a simple 70-20-10 rule when it comes to their employee’s professional development:

  • 70 percent – Challenging assignments, stretch goals and on-the-job experience
  • 20 percent – Coaching, feedback and networking
  • 10 percent – Formal training and development classes

Employee training and assimilation into the culture begin the day you make the hire. Take a good look at your onboarding program and identify areas of opportunity and improvement.

Compensation

While culture and professional growth are important, don’t overlook the role of fair compensation. With today’s technology, anyone can discover within minutes whether they’re being paid competitively or not.

But competitive pay is only the beginning. Flexible work schedules, work-from-home arrangements and paid time off when necessary are all part of today’s compensation package.

That’s why many companies now provide their employees with a Total Compensation Statement. It shows their base salary, of course. But it also includes the contributions the company makes towards their profit sharing, health insurance, retirement plans, etc.  Annual statements like these can go a long way towards showing your employees their true compensation package.

Other forms of compensation, such as bonuses used to pay life insurance premiums for employees’ benefits, employer-paid disability income insurance, or non-qualified deferred compensation programs can help keep your most valuable employees in place. And they can provide the company with potential tax deductions. Oftentimes, offering meaningful benefits to your employees can cost the company less than a salary increase, while still having the same positive effect.

In the end, happy, satisfied employees are more productive, more innovative and present a better face to your customers. They become the backbone of a stronger company, allowing you to focus on improving your business model instead of constantly looking for new employees to fill seats.

The information provided is not written or intended as specific tax or legal advice. MassMutual, its employees and representatives are not authorized to give tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to seek advice from their own tax or legal counsel.

Insurance products issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) (Springfield, MA 01111-0001) and its subsidiaries, C.M. Life Insurance Company and MML Bay State Life Insurance Company (Enfield, CT 06082).