10 Reasons Why Organizations Are Not Able to Retain Employees
1. People don't get integrated. Most organizations have an orientation program that is more of a data dump or focused on compliance training being completed. The focus should be more on enabling employees to form networks among themselves.
2. Performance goals are unclear. In a fast-growing team or business, the focus is on getting things done today, but rarely are performance goals thought through, and employees are told which resources to approach for help.
3. Development is always tomorrow's job. Culturally, Indians are focused on learning. If learning adds value only to the job and not to the overall career goals of the individual, then the organization seems too transactional for the employee.
4. The personal touch is missing. How comfortable are managers in building personal bonds with their subordinates? Many managers shy away, fearing that a bond will make delivering hard messages difficult. I would argue that it's the other way around! Knowing employees on a personal level makes a manager aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Work allocation and employee development become easier.
5. Reward systems are not transparent. Most employees who receive salary increases because they have a rare skill at a particular point in time think they got their raise for excellent performance. Can you share details about how they have been compensated?
6. Perceived equity of reward systems is low. Like it or not, employees discuss salary details, and if there is any perceived lack of equity, then you have an issue!
7. Goal-setting process is not scientific. Most organizations impose a normal curve fitment but do not train managers to set realistic goals or goals that align with organizational or functional goals. This also leads to point number 6.
8. External equity is missing too. Don't conduct an annual compensation survey when the market moves every 3-4 months. If your practitioners feel that externally comparable professionals are being valued more, then they will leave.
9. No communication around total value. If you offer benefits apart from only monetary terms, do you communicate that to employees as well? Things like being a global or niche industry leader, the value of the brand of the organization, should also be made explicit.
10. No career planning. Are people aware of the ways in which they can grow in the organization? Who are the role models within the organization? Do they know what they have to do to gain the competencies to move to various levels? (Update: Can you be radical enough and create an internal talent market?)