I am looking for realitively inexpensive ideas on how to keep good employees.
All Ideas, no matter how "crazy" are welcome.

Hi Keith,

Here's the best and cheapest way to keep employees:

Treat them well and with respect, give them interesting and challenging work to do, and pay them a competitive salary or give them other perks/benefits to make up for it.

(1) Treat them well and with respect - nobody wants to work for a company who doesn't appreciate their work. Yes, many folks are just looking for a paycheck, but there are also many others who have an excellent work ethic and take pride in doing their best. Show your appreciation for them often - a simple "I'm really pleased with your work, keep it up!" from the boss can be a powerful motivator.

(2) If you have employees looking to stray, they may be bored. Free treats and kind words won't go far if the job itself is intrisically boring. Motivation has to come from within, and if an employee really doesn't like the work they're doing, try to change the job duties a bit or give them more variety. For instance, when I was managing tech support departments, I made sure to give all my support technicians one hour per day to work on their own projects, so long as the work benefitted the department in some way.

(3) Pay them a competitive salary - Nobody likes to work hard for peanuts. If money is tight and you can't afford to pay your employees well, give them perks and "extras" that are affordable to you and appreciated by the employee.

I'm always recommending books in this forum, but I've read so many great ones over the years and there's always an appropriate book for every business situation posted here.

Check out two books by Bob Nelson, "1001 Ways to Energize Employees" and "1001 Ways to Reward Employees". Both of these books are inexpensive paperbacks and have tons of great ideas that you can implement without too much work. Good luck!

*Tanja

--
Words4Nerds: big technical writing for small business
Email: tanja@words4nerds.com
Web: http://www.words4nerds.com

Thanks so much!

I've been in Human Resources for 14 years, have my own consulting business for the past five years. Retention is one of the key factors that all employers are dealing with & the good ones (employers) are really taking a hard look.
Everyone should read & commite to memory Tanja's resopnse. Tanja -- excellent!
I would add one thing -- do exit interviews with those who do leave or those who have left within the past six months.

Hi Keith. Ask them their opinion and then listen to what they say. Refer back to their idea in other conversations. Try some of their suggestions. Give credit where credit is due. Trust them with more responsibility. Introduce them to other people. When a customer asks a question and a capable employee is nearby, introduce them and ask them to answer it for you. When someone compliments them, make sure it gets back to them. Make sure issues like personal safety, clean washrooms and harassment are dealt with. Support them when they are having a tough time.

Don't ignore problems. Deal with them.

Celebrate accomplishments. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive -- just a box of doughnuts or a cake. Make sure you take a picture for the bulletin board. And don't wait for it to be a mammoth project -- celebrate the small ones too. Life is too short.

Provide with various means of personal development -- articles, books, training, mentoring, shadowing another person in a new job.

Ask them what you can do that would help them be more effective in their work. Then, listen.

Good luck.

Elizabeth
http://www.fifthavenuecollection.com/elizabeth

Hi Keith! Try checking out the companies who are doing business "with a conscious". Like Celestial Tea and many others. Supporting Your Success, Janice

I agree completely with Tanja. The best way to keep an employee is to give employees an active and welcoming workplace.

No matter what cash/material perks one can give, nothing beats enjoying the work, and the people one works with.

Cyrus

ps: is Tanja prononunced Tanya? Is it one of those Czech(?) J=Y or a J=H, or Y=Y...Just curious. I hope you dont mind me asking.

Hi Cyrus!

Yes, it's pronounced "Tanya"... one of those crazy Russian names. :^)

*Tanja

--
Words4Nerds: big technical writing for small business
Email: tanja@words4nerds.com
Web: http://www.words4nerds.com

I think the best way to keep ggod employees is by giving them good communication, keeping them informed and giving them recognition. The best way to do that is to utilize an employee newsletter service. Try http://freelancewriters.bizhosting.com for help

read a book called "E-MYTH" by michael gerber

it's great... especially on this subject

I got to say that the advice you have recieved
from everyone is great! If you take all of the
advice and really let it sink in you will be
a great person to work for.Will you make any
mistakes? Of course you will.All of us do of
course.But there is one other thing I've learned
in 27 years of dealing with people.If you let
them see you are human,and can make mistakes
and even willing to ask them for advice,they
will feel like a million.Employees want more
than a pay check,or even benefits.They want to
be reconized as a part of the team.If they
feel like they are an important part they will
do all they can to be better.I agree too that
you must show this to them,even it is just a
posting of their name as being the person(s)
who helped you with a delima. I'm sure you have
heard the old saying "if you help enough people
get what they want in life they in turn will
help you get what you want. Lastly I also
learned never ask an employee to do something
you yourself would not do. I mean if they know
(example)you take the trash out on occasion then
they won't mind doing it as well.Treat them as
you wanted to be treated. It sounds like you
are at least on the right track.And that is at
least you are asking for help. I think you will
do great. Read Zig Ziglar's "See you at the top"
Great book from a real mentor.
God bless,
Kevin Brooks
P.s.if you need a friend to ask for anything
just e-mail me at kbbrooks@bellsouth.net