Abstract
Retaining employees is a dilemma for small businesses. Large corporations have resources specifically aimed at keeping their employees while smaller ones do not. Using online resources, we examined the issue of employee retention in small business. We found that the problem stems from different areas, lack of resources, few employees, minimal direction from management. While these issues are a problem, they are not insurmountable. Small businesses need to be innovative and creative in finding ways to keep their employees.
Retaining Employees
Why would a small business see higher turnover than a larger company? In general, small companies have less official company documentation and standardization with regard to job descriptions and responsibilities. Because there is a smaller employee roster, there is less opportunity for specialization. Small business employees often have to be versatile. It is for this reason that small businesses often refrain from being specific in outlining an employee’s duties: The employers themselves may not know ultimately what the expectations are of their own employees. Writes Kickul, “Instead of having explicit job assignments, job descriptions, and training programs that are traditionally seen within large organizations (Aldrich and Auster 1986; Aldrich and Langton 1997), small firms and their founders may rely on informal techniques to communicate their organizational benefits and rewards to guide and assist employees in understanding their psychological contract with the small business. (Kickul, Jill)”
Employees often want specific descriptions of their roles and responsibility. This means having written job roles and responsibilities, and having this available to the employee. When an employee has a specific understanding of what is expected of them, they will tend to have an increased sense of job security. As mentioned in the above quote, this scenario is traditionally found in larger companies. An individual going to work for Home Depot or Wal-Mart is going to be given an employee handbook, specific outline and description of job requirements, etc. In the absence of this explicit communication, i.e. in the small business environment, there exists the possibility of miscommunication, misunderstanding, and resentment using these “informal” techniques, be they verbal, hinted at, indirectly suggested, or otherwis...
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... environment that is desirable and unique can help in this process. This includes promoting from within the company and giving employees’ room to grow. Most small businesses will find that these solutions can help when there is a lack of resources. Finally, by getting creative small businesses can find solutions that cost less and will still be effective in retaining employees in the face of larger businesses.
References
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Hayes, Scott. (1999). Payroll-Deduction Plans Help Small Companies Retain Employees. Workforce.
Jones, Alexandra. (2004). Work-Life Balance needs Correcting. Daily Mail.
Kickul, Jill. (2001). Promises made, Promises Broken: An Exploration Of Employee
Attraction and Retention Practices in Small Business. Journal of Small Business Management.
Worden, Vicki, L. (2002). Tips For Keeping Top Performers. Association Management.
As with many small business owners they vision of their business usually only extends to their own abilities. They are driven and full of determination and believe their abilities will be able to sustain the business to success. Unfortunately, many small businesses lack the knowledge to be able to effectively be owners’ and leader’ to their organizations.
Research. A restaurant industry study in 2000 stated that employers were the reason for turnover.
There comes a time in a business owner’s career where they will be faced with the decision of whether to expand or to focus on other goals. Goals that focus on creating a healthy work environment, providing great customer service, and giving back to the community. There are a number of small business owners that have decided not to expand and have ultimately created small sustainable companies that are thriving in today’s market. Bo Burlingham discusses the principles of a “Small Giant” and the “mojo” that these small businesses posses in his book Small Giants. All of the businesses that Burlingham describes in the book are privately owned, and their primary goal is not the growth of the company but being the best at what they do for their customers. The principles discussed by Burlingham are relatable and useful when recruiting and selecting a sales force team.
All organizations want to see an increase in productivity and a positive impact on the bottom line. Successful organizations realize employee retention and talent management is integral to sustaining their leadership and growth in the market place. The focus of this group project is on worker retention strategies. Worker retention strategies are programs designed to preserve existing quality workers by providing benefits and incentives. These benefits and incentives are provided to employees in various ways. Our group chose to explore six organizations in three different industries. These industries include Retail, Package shipping, and Airlines. Through research and investigation of three major industries we were able to develop a comparison of how these major organizations retain quality workers. First, we explore and learn how to keep people motivate to stop turnover within an organization. Secondly, we investigate employer’s benefits and incentive programs to keep quality employees. Finally, we examine workforce motivation and the engagement to commitment as organizations continually change initiatives and strategic planning.
This case study was about the president of Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, a restaurant chain specializing in seafood, whose practice structure and secret to success was to have and maintain minimal management turnover. In fact, his focus on turnover was so successful that he did not have a general manager leave for 3 years, and he has decreased management turnover from 36% to 16% in 2 years. The motivation of an organization’s employees significantly affects it success. Additionally, employee turnover, absenteeism, and tardiness weaken employee productivity.
If the organization succeeds then the employees also succeeds. Employees must see the bigger picture and must feel that they are part of the organization and not just a one man show.
... towards ensuring employee satisfaction and effectiveness as a way through organizational success and profitability will be enhanced. Consequently, robust leadership will eventually affect the success and profitability of small business. These leadership and management hence need to be employee motivation towards adaptation of organizational vision and mission. Small business have to improve their operations, various leadership and management models should importantly be utilized. This study, therefore, through a series of cases studies of small business, seeks to analyses the experiences of companies that have tried to expand using small business models. As such it provides a richer insight into those factors that influence small business growth.
Employee satisfaction, employee turnover, and workplace environment are inseparably linked. Workplace environments heavily influence employee satisfaction, which directly affects employee turnover rates. When employees feel they are not being supported within their first months of hire, they will inevitably leave the company. Employees want to have the security that if they need assistance, someone will be there to guide them. Therefore, it is imperative for organizations to develop a thorough onboarding program and a long-term retention plan.
Employee retention is a practice in which the employees are convinced to stay in the organization for the most period of time or until the accomplishment of the plan. There is no scarcity of opportunities for a capable person. There are countless organizations, which are looking for such employees. If individuals are not satisfied by the job they are doing, they might switch over to some other more appropriate job. In today’s upbringing it turns out to be very imperative for organizations to retain their employees (Dibble, 2000). Employee retention is supportive for the organization with that of the employee. Employees today are diverse. They are not the ones who don’t have first-rate opportunities in hand. As soon as they dissatisfy with the current organization or the job, they switch over to the next job. It is the duty of the organization to keep their paramount employees (Phillips and Connell, 2003). Employee retention concerns taking measures to convince employees to remain with the organization for the most period of time. Today employees’ retention has become the major issue for organizations. Hiring knowledgeable workers for the job is essential for an organization. However retention is even more crucial than hiring (Inkson, 2007).
Employee satisfaction is undoubtedly the best predictor of employee retention. A job environment consisting of good working relationships usually fosters employee satisfaction. Employees feel motivated as they believe that the company is appreciating their service and commitment. Job satisfaction results in employee retention. Employee retention could be defined as the length of time employees stay with the organization.
Growth in the small and medium business in Canada and other developed countries has been very significant. This sector of the business community now represents about 40 percent of GDP and accounts more than half of total employment. Today small businesses are more diverse and more vigorous than ever, but they also faces newer and more challenges or inhibitors to their growth than their older conter parts. This research will attempt to find the answer to the following hypothetical question:
673), retention management must be based on three types of turnover, voluntary, discharged, and downsizing. Not all businesses are freighted by turnovers, for some it is the way of life and cost is built into the budget. However, for others any type of high turnover can be detrimental for company profit, employee wage and benefits offered. First, let’s take a look at voluntary and involuntary turnover that affects retention. Voluntary turnovers are caused by many different reasons. Turnover may result from topics such as job dissatisfaction, job mismatching, knowing that job opportunities are plentiful. Two reasons that I will discuss more are micromanagement and employee loyalty. Like stated before in the introduction, when employees are dissatisfied, possibly due to being placed in an area that doesn’t fit with their skill set, one is more likely to seek new employment. Another part of turnover is discharging and downsizing. Discharge is just that, members being discharged due to discipline and job performance. While downsizing turnover is a result of business being overstaffed (Heneman III, Judge, Kammeyer-Mueller, 2015, pg. 675). There are also other reasons for voluntarily employee turnover, such as generation differences when it relates to employment. The current generations are more likely to see a job as one piece in their life puzzle rather than as the first, indispensable anchor piece without
...om numerous occupations are simple for employers to recognize. Upholding low turnover inside an association is originally the accountability of employers and service authorities. Their duty is to identify candidates who appear more likely to perform well and remain stable employees.
Small businesses have been considered the mainstay in countries around the world. In many European countries for example, the small business has been considered crucial to the success and flourishment of the country in general. Most individuals start upon a small business venture in the hopes of realizing ownership, independent profits and personal success. Small businesses can prove extremely successful when planned properly. Studies suggest that several small businesses, however, close or fail within the first few years of operation. This failure suggests that a majority of small business owners may not have as yet realized the crucial success factors necessary for successful implementation of a small business.
Shaw, E. (1997), “The real networks of small firms”, in Deakins, D., Jennings, P. and Mason, C, (Eds), Small Firms: Entrepreneurship in the Nineties, Paul Chapman Publishing, London.