The festive period has ended and 2016 has arrived, along with the new year approaches and the continuous thoughts of, ‘what changes can I make this year?’, ‘where am I going in my career?’. Many employees use the first calendar month as a period for evaluating their job satisfaction, which almost certainly results in January and February being the most popular months for individuals to change careers. For employers, this causes huge worries, so it is important that the effort is made to retain the top talent within your Business.

The economy is continuing to improve and job openings are hitting a record high. As we witness this increase in roles and the willingness of non-active Candidates to contemplate career moves, now more than ever it is important to make staff retention a high priority.

It is possible for employers to prevent the January blues and improve the motivation within their Organisation. To retain staff, you have to provide them with a valid reason to stay, so try actively taking on some of the following steps:

• Get Staff Excited About 2016 & Allow Their Contribution

January is often an exciting month for the Senior members of the team, as we see Business plans and objectives being implemented for the coming year. It is important that at this stage you try and get employees on board during the planning process, and allow them too to get excited about what’s in store for the Organisation. Not only should you share some of the business plans, but highlight what role each individual/team plays in being able to successfully achieve this. Giving staff the opportunity to contribute often boosts morale.

• Positively Reflect on 2015

Though it is vital to keep employees focussed on the tasks ahead in 2016, it is also a good idea to reflect on what successes the team made in the previous year. Reviewing what went well in 2015 can be a fantastic way for the positives within the Business to continue through the New Year.

• Be Flexible to Employee Needs

Due to the individual differences in employee needs within a Business, when managing a workforce, it is often beneficial to take a flexible approach, particularly when it comes to staff training and hours of work. Consider the requests of your employees and comprehend whether these needs can be fulfilled within the guidelines of your Organisation. Making an allowance for individual needs shows employees that the Business is prepared to help keep its workforce happy and that each employee is both wanted and needed within the team.

The beginning of a New Year is often when the majority of employees are more focussed and inspired to improve themselves. Demonstrating that you are willing to invest in and progress your staff’s skill-sets is a key motivator, so put together a training plan for your team. Though training costs do add up, often recruitment costs of replacing an individual total to more, so it is beneficial to invest in your staff.

• Improve Communication

As communication amid Employers and their Managers lessens, so too does the employer/employee relationship, which is a is a vital factor in an Organisation’s success. Employees should be made aware (when necessary) of any changes taking place within the Business, keeping staff in the loop is a key factor to keeping them happy.

Communication also provides a chance for employees to highlight any grievances they have regarding their responsibilities and the role itself, or other elements of the Business such as disagreements with Colleagues. Before these comments escalate to a point where an employee seeks a new opportunity, sit down with your staff and work out solutions to make certain they are happy and motivated for the year ahead.

• Offer Employee Incentives

Though it may appear to be the most obvious answer, additional staff incentives often go a long way in the workplace. Whilst larger Companies often have the capability to provide staff with a Company car or additional paid holiday, not every incentive has to be quite as large. From a simple early finish or breakfast on a Friday, duvet days or working from home one day a week, to a regular team night out, small touches will be appreciated.

Discovering and hiring the top talent within the Print & Packaging Industries can seem a long and challenging process, but the retention of staff can be made easier. Ensuring you are continuously mindful of the satisfaction of your employees and remain focussed on keeping them content, motivated and productive, means they become a valued member of the workforce and less likely to consider/ seek a career change in 2016.

Do you have more tips for employee motivation and staff retention? Tweet us @BlayzeUnguem