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Good Employees are Always in Season—Choose Wisely

Good employees are an essential ingredient for every company’s long-term success. They are positive people who continually go beyond the call of duty. These folks think independently and willingly collaborate with other team members to complete projects.

Good employees take pride in their work and are committed to helping the business achieve its goals. Additionally, these people are:

  • Honest and truthful with fellow employees and customers
  • Hard-working and reliable
  • Customer-focused and enthusiastic
  • Open-minded and willing to lead with confidence
  • Organized and detail-oriented

Hiring Good Employees Matters 
When employees perform poorly, it affects day-to-day business operations and negatively impacts the entire team’s morale. However, there are significant benefits for organizations that invest the time required to hire good employees. When managers hire the right people, they save time overseeing the person’s work habits and counseling them on needed behaviors—people who are productive boost the morale of their teammates since they shoulder their fair share of responsibilities. 

It costs store owners money to terminate an employee who performs below expectations. Hiring a person who is a good match and whose temperament aligns with the company’s goals, mission, and values is better. The likelihood is much higher that someone with these qualities will be a top performer who enjoys assisting and interacting with customers.

Why Good Employees Leave
Most bosses believe they’re doing a great job—except those who don’t care what their employees think. The Great Resignation led over 38 million people to leave their jobs last year. The trend will continue in 2022. Employees are essentially unhappy with their current job situation and are unwilling to tolerate the status quo. Most people are moving on to new jobs. While money often factors into the decision to leave, the deeper root of employees’ dissatisfaction is often more emotional. According to a Flexjobs survey, the reasons vary.

1. Toxic company culture (62 percent) 
2. Low salary (69 percent) 
3. Poor management (56 percent)
4. Lack of work-life balance (49 percent)
5. Not allowing remote work (43 percent)

How to Motivate Your Staff
It’s difficult for employees to stay motivated without encouragement and support from employers. Great managers make it a priority to keep their staff engaged and motivated. It’s an ongoing process that is good for the business’s health. A recent Gallup poll says 68.5 percent of workers aren’t involved—this limits productivity and potential future with the company. Managers can do some basic things to keep team members engaged.

  • Write thank-you notes. Everyone appreciates praise for a job well done. Thank-you notes are a personal gesture that makes people feel their efforts are recognized by their manager. Be specific and thoughtful when writing the message.
  • Get together for fun team activities regularly after work, such as bowling, going to a movie, dinner, or an event.
  • Celebrate the holidays with a catered party, lunch, or dinner—give employees a gift or bonus.
  • Be transparent about situations within the organization and address them honestly.
  • Lead by example and work harder than employees. Don’t expect employees to give 100 percent when you’re only willing to contribute 50 percent to the company’s success.

Make Meaningful Changes 
Embracing change and adopting new ways of thinking is a process that doesn’t happen overnight. Retailers work hard to build good customer relationships. They should make the same efforts to retain good employees. Reassess your operation to determine what is important to employees—listen and respond. Start with small steps. Employees will notice and appreciate your efforts.

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