How long do employees stay in your organization? Aberdeen found that 86% of employees make the decision to stay or leave in the first 6 months. In Canada, one-fifth of teachers leave in the first five years; this number increases to one-half in the US. In the service industry – call centres, retail, fast food, etc. – 50% of employees turnover in the first 90 days! In the US, nearly 80% of jobs are service jobs. What is your tipping point – the point when most employees leave your organization?
Why do they leave so quickly? At first glance we might think it is about the new recruit’s personality. A wrong fit with the work or the organization. Not so says a study by the University of Florida. A study with over 1000 professionals in eight organizations found that the three reasons employees left within the first 30 days are:
- relationships with supervisors
- relationships with colleagues
- reassignment of projects
On the flip-side, Towers Perrin found the top three global reasons people stay are:
- organizations’ reputation as a great place to work
- satisfaction with organization’s people decisions
- good relationship with supervisor
Relationships matter. And no relationship is more important in the workplace than the one we have with our immediate supervisor. In an online survey conducted in 2007, Leadership IQ found that 32% of an employee’s decision to remain with the organization is based on the trust that employee has with his or her immediate supervisor. Respect, fair and equitable treatment and connecting on a personal and work level are important contributors to trust.
How might you improve relationships with your supervisors and the people who report to you?
Val Kinjerski, PhD, is a leading authority in the field of employee engagement and on the topic of “spirit at work.” An inspirational speaker, consultant and writer, she helps companies and organizations increase employee retention and boost productivity by reigniting employees’ love for their work. She is the author of Rethinking Your Work and Rethinking Your Work Guidebook. Available now.