Retention - why employees leave
by Dr John Sullivan - Professor and Head of HR Mgmt at
SF State Univ.
Why do people leave a job for a better job?
People often lie in exit interviews about why they are leaving. Managers should, of
course, know in advance who is leaving and why. A comprehensive list like this is
of little value unless you use it as a guide to gather your own information as to why
YOUR workers are leaving.
Top Reasons�why people leave their jobs (research results) Harvard Business Review
Job content
Level of responsibility
Company culture
Caliber of Colleagues
Salary
California Strategic HR
Partnership (CSHRP) Result
Low growth potential
Lack of challenge
Lack of autonomy
Not enough money
Work environment issues
Summary of general reasons why people decide to leave their jobs. Suggested action items are listed after each reason
No one asked them to stay. (lack of personal "suasion") --
Talk to them one-on-one or
No one asked then what motivates them --
Talk to them one-on-one.
They feel isolated and "in the dark" --
Increase communications with your employees.
They are unhappy with the mix of their job responsibilities --
Change job responsibilities / and increase their job challenges.
Lifestyle / work family conflicts --
Change their work schedule / location.
A lack of resources or support --
Give them direct assistance or additional resources.
A feeling of isolation and lack of recognition --
Increase their "exposure" opportunities.
They don't identify with the organization --
Develop common goals / passion/ values / a sense of urgency / and a shared vision.
No personal ties to the team --
Develop friendships, relationships and heroes.
They don't feel empowered, appreciated or that they are "members / owners" of the organization. --
Develop a sense of ownership, identity / belonging / fit, etc., with the dept / product / team.
No compelling vision of the future --
Make the future look more promising and the prospects of leaving unpleasant.
No pride in the products / company --
Improve our image / reputation.
A lack of authority / control / autonomy --
Increase their involvement / participation and control.
Not enough "toys"& great working conditions --
Change their physical environment.
Work isn't fun anymore --
Make work fun / make it hard to quit.
Lack of equity --
Create a perception of fairness and equity.
No group pressure to stay --
Develop a cohesive team.
They don't feel appreciated or" special" --
Make each employee feel special / wanted / needed.
A lack of external pressure to stay --
Involve their family and friends.
No prospects for a "new" job / promotion / growth --
Offer new job responsibilities.
Having a "bad" manager --
Avoid bad management actions (or in-actions) by individual managers.
Undefined or miscellaneous reasons for leaving --
Miscellaneous retention strategies.
Perception of low pay / benefits, rewards or no vision of wealth --
Change compensation / benefits.
Retention efforts came too late --
Implement preventative strategies.
Micro reasons why people leave their jobs include:
1. Compensation
Not enough stock options / low value
Not enough benefits
Lack of bonuses
Lack of promotions
Lack of awards
Low pay and�
Loss of possible chance of "Wealth"
2. Lack of motivation for a particular project
Lack of enthusiasm toward project
Work team not cohesive
Lack of communication in project team
Assigned to a project unwillingly
3. Stress
Impossible to meet deadlines
Too many projects on going
Long working hours
Work taken home = less leisure time
Family/relationship problems due to the above
Possible health problems i.e. blood pressure high, nervous breakdown, anxiety attack
4. Competitor's work environment is a better place to work Companies such as
SGI, Levi, Microsoft have reputation of being "fun places to work at."
More autonomy
Post-exit interview reasons for leaving (6 month delay)
Bad management (actions--or inactions--by individual managers)
Lack of challenge
--------------------
Dr John Sullivan
Professor and Head of Human Resource Management at San Francisco State
University (JohnS@sfsu.edu)
Numerous articles by Dr Sullivan can be found at http://go.ourworld.nu/gately/sullivan.htm
Articles exclusively on recruiting can be found at http://www.erexchange.com/ere3/search.asp?SearchID=ARTCL&USERID=429912132
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