Employees are Staying Instead of Going. Now What?

The Great Resignation began in 2021 as large numbers of people quit the workforce. Then it morphed into the Great Reshuffle in 2022 as people chose to stay in the workforce but changed jobs.

However, in March 2023, the rate at which workers voluntarily left their jobs, excluding retirements, fell to 2.1%, evidence that the post-pandemic job change-over might be slowing. In Q3 2024, many employees are firmly choosing to remain in their current roles due to economic uncertainty and/or changes made during the Great Resignation and Reshuffle that provided them with better work-life balance.

In three years, the Big Quit has become the Big Stay.

So, what should companies do now that employees are voluntarily staying instead of going?

In short: Stay vigilant. I tell my clients that in ANY economy, no matter the unemployment rate, there is always a need to find and keep talent at all levels. While employees may stay put for now, that may not always be the case, especially for those considered “stars.” Consistent, on-going, two-way communication between employees and their managers is one of the best ways to ensure that talented people stay engaged in an organization. Here are my top four tips for retaining talented people:

  • Ask employees what is important to them at work. Do so regularly.
  • Give employees feedback. Balance on-going positive and constructive feedback throughout the year, not only during annual reviews.
  • Discuss how to get work done effectively AND flexibly. Your talent has proven that it’s possible to accomplish business objectives AND have legitimate work/life balance.
  • Hold regular development discussions. “Development” may not mean the same thing to every employee, so talk one-on-one to understand needs and aspirations.

I would welcome the opportunity to help you retain your talented people. Please see my website www.cresolutionsinc.com for information about my offerings or contact me directly at crykowski@cresolutionsinc.com or 914.772.2789.

Additional ideas to retain talent below

Strategic Solutions

CRE Solutions, Inc. offers personalized learning experiences through one-on-one sessions, team workshops, business meetings, and conferences. Our direct interventions are designed to elevate individual, team, department, and organizational performance by leveraging our expertise in performance and behavioral assessment.

Leadership Versatility Index (LVI)

I am proud to announce that I have added Leadership Versatility Index (LVI) certification to my 360 offerings!

The LVI looks at a spectrum of How You Lead (Forceful vs. Enabling) and What You Lead (Strategic vs. Enabling) and is built around a patented “Too Little/Too Much” behavioral rating scale which helps leaders to quickly distinguish the behaviors they need to increase, decrease, or leave the same.

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See a sample report here.

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Giving & Receiving Feedback

We know that good feedback helps individuals and organizations grow and improve. In most organizations, employees at all levels say they want MORE feedback.

Despite our best intentions, feedback can fall flat, or worse, be taken poorly by the recipient and cause relationships and performance to recede, rather than advance.

Participants will learn to give feedback based on behavioral observations, clarify what they have heard, confirm understanding, and move forward.

This highly interactive program is offered in-person and live virtual.

For more information, click here.

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We work within your unique culture and budget to identify the most effective and efficient learning methods to achieve your business goals. Our initiatives focus on changing behaviors, improving skills, and advancing business objectives, ensuring that our solutions are perfectly aligned with your specific requirements.