Why do Good Employees Quit?

If your best employees seem to be leaving for better opportunities, you might be wondering why. You might ask yourself what you’re doing wrong or what you need to learn to retain your employees longer in the future. The reality is that sometimes you might be developing your employees well if they’re finding better paying jobs with more well-known companies. However, many good employees leave for reasons that are not about the money they’re making.

Inclusion is something that your best employee craves. He wants to know that his input is welcome and utilized. In cases where you can’t use his ideas, including him in the details goes a long way. Even if you simply tell him what’s going on and why, he feels valued.

Secrets, on the other hand, make employees feel insecure. This insecurity leads the best in your company toward sprucing up resumes in hopes of finding something new. You don’t have to include him in on everything that’s happening, but throw him a few tidbits here and there. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to retain your employee who loves his job.

Additional duties, or duties that don’t match what your employee feels are a part of the job description, can send him heading for the hills. If you want to retain your employees longer, be very careful about piling the work of two or three employees onto one.

There might be times when you have to cut some of your staff to create a better bottom line.It happens every day, but if you’re in this situation, and want to retain your employee, it’s best to ease into it and ask him if he feels up to the task of taking on the additional responsibility. However, keep in mind that asking him to take on more responsibility may mean that you need to pay a little more.

If your star employee hasn’t had a raise in a while, consider giving him one. If you can’t afford it, then offer additional vacation days or even smaller bonuses along the way. This is possibly one of the best ways to retain your employees. However, never forget the importance of simply thanking him for his hard work and dedication.

As great as a raise and bonuses are, sometimes it's not about the money at all. If you’re trying to retain an employee but he has reached the top of the rung, then you might be hiring someone new soon. A rising star is only as great as the available levels in the company. Once he reaches the top, the only other thing to work toward is a new company with higher levels.

Not every employee will leave a company because they feel left in the dark, there’s no money for raises or there’s no other position to get promoted to. Some of the best employees leave because they get bored with the job. Do what you can to retain your employees, and soon, you might have more of the best and the brightest want to come work for you.

Photo courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net