Elevating Employee Experience: A Game-Changer for Retention
If you haven’t worked in HR, you might be surprised that it’s a non-stop rollercoaster of tasks, ranging from everything from paperwork to compliance. If you work in HR, I’m preaching to the choir. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the day-to-day grind that we forget the bigger picture. So here's a friendly nudge to remind you of the most powerful tool in your toolbox: Employee Experience.
In today's talent-driven world, employees are your most valuable assets. You can’t reach company goals or make impact to your mission without ‘em. And happy, engaged employees are more likely to stick around and give their best. It's time to shift your focus from the administrative tasks of HR to the overall Employee Experience (EX).
EX isn't about ping-pong tables or fancy perks (although those are nice!). It's about understanding what makes your employees tick, what inspires and motivates them, and how they can personally and professionally grow within your company.
Here are a few simple strategies to get started. And guess what? They cost little to nothing to implement.
Personalized Onboarding
Have you ever shown up on your first day to a job and no one even knew you were supposed to be there? You sat in the lobby while people scrambled to put some resemblance of a first day together for you. Yikes! Make sure to welcome each new hire with a tailored onboarding experience. Take some time to make their onboarding memorable, with detailed pre-first day instructions to ease any nervousness and a first week lunch with the team for a warm welcome.
Skill Development
The top reason for voluntary turnover in nonprofit is lack of opportunity for growth, according to a 2023 article by Inside Charity. You may not be able to provide the career advancement they want if you're a smaller organization, but you can ask your employees what skills they want to develop while they’re with you. You can tailor their learning opportunities to them and even create some stretch projects to help them gain the skills and experience they’re looking for.
Inclusivity
In a sector where the average employee turnover rate is 19% (higher than across the general workforce), you have to work even harder to find top talent that wants to stay in really difficult and complex work for the community. Always work to create a workplace where everyone feels like they belong. Diverse teams are more innovative and engaged.
By focusing on these EX strategies, you're not just improving morale. You're also boosting retention, reducing recruitment costs, and elevating your company's overall employer brand.
There’s a real return on investment by dedicating some time to the strategic side of HR. Let's ensure that your employees are excited to be a part of your team and that they stay for the long haul.