Business owners or management can keep employees happy in their job and avoid high turnover, by either being or providing them with a good boss. If your employees don’t have a good boss, save your money, as not much else will work (at least for long). People, even in minimum wage jobs, do not want to work for a jerk.
Good bosses:
- Develop good relationships with their staff – and staff respond positively
• Engage and value their staff by seeking and listening to their ideas, opinions and ways to make the business better
- Ask their employees what can be done to make the customer experience better
- Create a positive work environment
• Ensure that their employees are compensated fairly and recognized appropriately
If this is in place, incentive programs can work, and the small business owner best start with non-cash incentives: time off and special recognition. Cash incentives should be small and represent an appreciation rather than a salary increase.
Small business owners (particularly in the entertainment and service industries) are plagued with high turnover and disgruntled employees. And without a good boss they will stay that way.
Copyright 2009 Kubica and LaForest
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