Organisations must minimise the impact of the Great Resignation by implementing programmes and policies that can benefit their workers. As it stands, a survey of 1,000 Brit employees published in www.bbc.com shows that nearly a third of these individuals reported they’re planning to leave their jobs soon. Given that quit rates in the country remain an issue, now is the time for employers to develop solutions that can improve employee retention.
From providing healthcare services to bolstering one’s career advancement, there are numerous ways to address the increasingly concerning effects of the Great Resignation. Below, this article explores four important strategies that you can deploy:
Develop flexible working arrangements
Recent research published by The HR Director shares that businesses who provide hybrid or remote working opportunities are less likely to be impacted by resignations. In fact, 28% of UK employees admit that flexible working policies are motivating them to retain their current jobs, while 16% of those who wish to quit say it’s because their employers aren’t providing the chance to work remotely.
Consequently, for starters, you can offer a compressed workweek schedule, which entails that employees cover full-time hours over fewer days. For part-time workers, you can introduce reduced hours, as this helps them accommodate other activities or professional pursuits alongside their job. Ultimately, developing these alternative working arrangements can promote work-life balance and boost employee retention rates.
Design a safe and comfortable workplace
A 2022 The Society of Occupational Medicine feature on office design reveals that 65% of employees at the average company suffer from work-related body pain. Luckily, ergonomics equipment can not only foster a safe and comfortable workspace, it can also lower staff turnover across UK organisations during the Great Resignation.
To illustrate, standing desk converters enable employees to alternate between sitting and standing, either by pulling a lever or pushing a button. This guide on www.painfreeworking.com explains that, with the aforementioned item, individuals can alleviate pain felt in the back, neck, and leg area. Specifically, the Varidesk Pro Plus 36 is equipped with a unique rowing-lift raising mechanism—this enables it to adapt to users of any height and helps promote movement to minimise pain while working. You can also provide ergonomic keyboards and mice for your workers to reduce instances of wrist strains. By utilising ergonomics equipment in the workplace, you can cultivate a safe and comfortable space that can increase employee satisfaction.
Provide virtual healthcare offerings
According to a 2021 WTW feature on UK companies and virtual services, telemedicine can reduce healthcare costs for workers, and likewise increase productivity and increase employee engagement—which are critical to mitigate the impact of the Great Resignation. Today, 68% of employers have already provided consultations with general practitioners. Notably, 68% of these businesses are also prioritising mental health services.
As our post on hrcurator.com stresses, it’s essential for employers to expand their mental health services offerings. And fortunately, 100% of insurance companies are dedicated to providing coverage for telehealth behavioural health services. So as your first step, choose an insurance company—such as Bupa UK—which delivers tailored health insurance plans that include extensive mental health cover and outpatient consultations and treatment. This way, you can improve the well-being of your workers.
Encourage professional development
Encouraging professional development across your staff can increase motivation. In addition, a 2022 Employer News report on upskilling notes that leveraging workplace skills development initiatives helps with the attraction and retention of employees. This is because 67% of UK workers believe that new skills will allow them to pursue and attain their career goals.
To start, identify which learning opportunities your employees are most interested in. At present, 24% of Brits feel that courses in leadership, numeracy and digital skills would be beneficial. Thankfully, you can leverage Skills Bootcamps, which this article educationhub.blog.gov.uk shares are free and designed in partnership with local businesses. You can also offer one-on-one consultations wherein managers can create a personalised career map with workers—just to understand which steps to take to successfully achieve employee retention.
Implementing initiatives that can enhance your employees’ well-being is imperative to circumvent their desire to quit. Hopefully, the strategies listed above can enable you to do so.
Article contributed by Rosette Joneson
mrs.rosetta.joneson@gmail.com
