When The Pandemic Ends, Will Your Team Still Stick Around?

By Sharon Ng-Ward, Ph.D - ELAvate Senior Trainer

As the global economy emerges from COVID-19, surveys show that a majority of workers are considering moving on to different jobs. What can you do to help them stay? Research shows that the following factors are important in influencing employees’ decisions: 

1. Compensation and Recognition. Employees want to know that their work is valued. Both monetary and non-monetary rewards demonstrate to employees that their contributions are important and appreciated.

2. Leadership. Good leadership increases job satisfaction. One reason employees leave is dissatisfaction with their leaders. Investing in leadership development can increase employees’ job satisfaction and influence them to stay.

3. Work environment. The global pandemic has disrupted the traditional work environment. If your employees are working from home, do they have a suitable working space? Are they getting sufficient opportunities to interact with other team members—both formally and informally? Are they developing relationships that can increase their sense of belonging to the team?

4. Work-Life balance. This pandemic has given employees more time to engage with their families, and they be loath to give it up. Providing flexibility in working hours or locations may persuade employees to stay.

5. Opportunity for Promotion. Promotions increase employees’ job satisfaction by recognizing their value to the organization and providing them new challenges.

6. Opportunity for Learning and Growth. Investing in employees’ growth increases their productivity and helps them to feel important and valued. Giving and receiving constructive and positive feedback can help employees and organizations learn from each other.

7. External opportunities. What potential jobs could your employees be considering? Take time to find out what your competitors are offering. Ensuring that your benefits are competitive with other organizations could limit the appeal of changing jobs.

While some leaders may think “oh, this doesn’t apply to my team, they are all happy, everyone’s sticking around,” leaders can be surprisingly inaccurate in reading employees’ perceptions. As we prepare to emerge from this pandemic, take the following steps to understand your team and keep them engaged in their work:

1. Take time to connect with individuals. Find out how they are doing in this challenging season—both in their work and personal well-being.

2. Conduct a climate survey. Employees may not feel comfortable sharing their concerns face to face. Surveys offer anonymity allowing them to share their feelings honestly.

3. Work on creative solutions. Finally, work with employees to develop creative solutions to keep them engaged. If there’s anything this pandemic has shown us, it’s that we are able to innovate and adapt to changing situations.

While countries are slowly emerging from the pandemic, know that things will not return to the way they were before. Taking time to focus on your people will enable your organization to become stronger and more capable to meet the challenges of the future.

Have a great weekend. Keep healthy and safe.