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The recruitment and hiring process is laborious and time-consuming for small business owners. But once you’ve gone through the hiring and interview process and found great employees who have proven they’re worth all the effort, keeping them engaged is essential (especially in a difficult labor market). Ask yourself these questions:

So what makes your best staff stay?

How can you improve employee retention?

What motivates them—and how can you ensure their loyalty stays with your business (and you) for years to come?

Is It All About The Money?

For some, it is. In today’s job market, offering competitive salaries and benefits is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent and employees. Employees want to feel valued and compensated fairly for their hard work and dedication.

By providing a comprehensive benefits package and salaries that align with industry standards, you attract the best candidates and ensure that your current employees are satisfied and motivated to stay for the long term. Investing in employee compensation and benefits may require a significant financial commitment, but the return on investment can be invaluable in terms of a positive company culture, increased productivity, and overall success.

Obviously, though, there’s a limit to what you can spend. Coming up with other ways to motivate people will make you a much more appealing employer.

We Just Want To Have Some Fun

A fun work environment is crucial for any workplace. Not only does it create a morale boost for employees, but it also makes the workplace a pleasant place to be. A work environment that is fun is better than other options because it promotes positive attitudes, camaraderie, and teamwork.

By making the workplace enjoyable, employees are more likely to be engaged and motivated to work harder. Whether through team-building activities, celebrations when goals are met, challenges and games, or daily interactions, creating a fun work environment can make all the difference in employee productivity and morale.

Saying “Thanks” Doesn’t Cost A Penny

Recognize and show genuine appreciation for your staff’s hard work, and give credit where credit is due. When employees feel valued, they feel more motivated, engaged, and loyal to the company. It’s not just about saying “thank you”; it’s about seeking a deeper connection with your team.

Take the time to truly listen to their feedback, ask them about their goals and aspirations, know something about them personally, and acknowledge their contributions to your business. A little recognition goes a long way in creating a positive work environment and cultivating a sense of community within your organization.

Let Them Grow

When employees feel that you value their skills and you allow them to grow and develop, they are more likely to stay with the organization and be productive members of your team. Providing employees with opportunities helps them become more proficient in their roles, which can lead to greater productivity and improved job satisfaction.

It also helps attract new talent. Potential employees want to know that there are ways they can grow within an organization, as well as the resources available for furthering their education or career development.

Can They Talk To You About Anything?

Effective communication starts with open channels between management and employees. Employees who feel they can share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns are more likely to be engaged and productive. The need to know that they’ll be heard is paramount – it makes them feel valued and encourages their involvement in the company, and builds trust, creating a positive and fulfilling work environment.

Reward Good Performance

Offering rewards and incentives is an effective way of encouraging staff members to work harder and achieve more. Before deciding which rewards to offer, ask employees what motivates them, what they want, and what they need. Some may wish for financial incentives, while others prefer flexible working hours or additional time off. As work and lifestyles change, what they desire will likely be different than you think.

Tailoring rewards to meet your staff members’ specific needs and desires is a crucial step in ensuring they feel valued and motivated to perform at their best.

Keeping Them Happy and Loyal

Keeping great employees is becoming increasingly important in the current labor market. Business owners must find the right combination of competitive pay, unique individualized benefits, and demonstrable appreciation to foster a sense of loyalty and enthusiasm among their team.

This means maintaining open communication channels between management and staff, offering opportunities for growth and development, and introducing rewards and incentives for excellent performance. Showing your team you care about them as individuals will help cultivate an environment where everyone feels respected and valued.

To succeed with keeping new staff, treat them like they are your customers; what do you do to keep them loyal? Communication, trust, and respect are vital components that will turn your team into a unified force driving the success of your business.

If you need help Finding, Attracting, and getting new staff to take Action to fill out an application, click the button below for a FREE Hiring Process assessment by a DFY Hiring Expert.

Locating, attracting, and hiring great staff is a function of your marketing, just like getting new customers. And we are a marketing that has helped restaurants find and hire superstar staff for the past 3 years.

Michael Thibault

Known as “The Done For You Marketing Guy for Restaurants.” International Speaker on Restaurant Marketing. Published contributing author of 4 Marketing Books. Industry expert on Google Searches and Review Sites. Recovering Independent Restaurant Owner and Caterer of over 21 years. And, all-around good guy.