Research by Equifax revealed that more than 48 million American employees left their jobs in 2013. Almost 40 percent of those workers left within six months of their hiring date, and a majority left voluntarily.
Employee retention, especially in the retail and restaurant industries, challenges many training managers. Replacing one worker costs money and time, and that multiplies if you are filling the same position a few times a year. Fortunately, new employee training can do more than get hires up to speed—it can also be a valuable tool in keeping them working for your company for more than just a few months. And a seasoned, experienced worker can be a great asset to your organization. Here are four ways new employee training can enhance retention:
1. Don’t Bore Them on the First Day
Many people can remember the first day of the various jobs they have held over the years. The range of these memories runs from fond to ho-hum to downright horrifying. A hire doesn’t necessarily have to be overly wowed on the first day, but not boring them will provide a better initial experience that can only help with retention. Some HR processes might be inevitable at the start of a new job, but giving new hires manual and a DVD, sending them to a back office to review the materials, and telling them “Read this, watch this, know this,” isn’t the best first impression. Interactive new employee training methods, including the use of iPad-based solutions, can go a long way in ensuring a worker’s first day isn’t tedious.
2. Make Training Cool
Technology resonates with many employees, especially Millennials who have never known a world without cell phones or the Internet. Adapting today’s devices, such as iPads, into new employee training processes is infinitely cooler for a generation raised on this technology. And if employees think their job is cool, they will more likely want to stay with your company for longer than similar workers at similar businesses will.
3. Learn as You Go
If a new employee must learn a skill right away, what’s the better method of teaching that skill: a diagram on the wall or in a binder, or a video they can watch on an iPad in the department where he or she will be working every day? New employee training that interactively teaches hires the skills they require for their new jobs not only makes them more comfortable in their first weeks, but also makes them more productive sooner, which will provide instant benefits to your company.
4. Solicit Feedback
Recent hires wouldn’t seem to have a voice on how things, including new employee training, are run. However, their opinions are still valid. If some aspect of training is causing new employees to leave the company sooner than expected, you need to know that—and your bosses need to know that. Furthermore, new employees who are made to feel as if their opinions are more important may become more invested in their jobs, thus decreasing the chances they’ll quit on a whim after three weeks.
How big an issue is employee retention at your company?
