11 Effective Ways to Increase Employee Retention in 2024

By  //  June 15, 2024

Employee turnover is a significant issue plaguing organizations today. As many as 3 to 4.5 million employees in the US quit their jobs each month in the US, according to a Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).

As of 2023, the average turnover rate across the country was 3.8%, nearly two-thirds of which was attributed to employee quits.

High turnover rates in turn lead to decreased levels of productivity, increased recruitment costs, time wasted spent on training, and most importantly, lost sales. In order to avoid such issues, companies across the US are focusing on strategies to improve their employee retention rates.

Here are some of the most effective ways to increase employee retention in 2024:

  • Match Their Value

Employees “acting their wage” can never be a problem for a company as long as the employers ensure that compensation and benefits are aligned with what their employees are worth. By matching their value, employers can ensure that their employees feel valued and don’t seek opportunities elsewhere.

  • Reward Their Efforts

Recognizing and rewarding your employees can go a long way in helping them feel appreciated and valued. From public praises to bonuses and promotions, there are numerous ways to cherish your employees for all their hard work. You can even get customized awards like trophies and plagues from a nearby trophy store to add to the charm of retaining employees. 

  • Foster a Positive Work Environment

Fostering a positive work environment in the workplace helps employers retain talent by making them feel safe, respected, and valued. Ensure transparency and open communication in the organization by communicating goals, challenges, and successes with your team. Employees should also be motivated to express their opinions and ideas freely. 

  • Encourage a Work-Life Balance 

Another way for employers to show their employees that they care about them is to encourage them to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Employees should be allowed to balance their work responsibilities alongside their personal interests and relationships. Not only will this help reduce burnout, but also foster a positive work environment. 

  • Nurture Professional Growth

One of the most effective ways to increase employee retention is investing in their personal and professional growth. According to a workplace survey report, 94% of surveyed respondents stated that they would stay longer if their company helped them learn. By offering mentorship, training opportunities, and relevant courses; employers can ensure their team always has something to look forward to and develop themselves along the way. 

  • Practice Empathy

An almost fail-proof way to ensure employees stay loyal to their company is by offering them empathy. Practicing empathy not only ensures employees improve their sense of belongingness and connection, but it even helps businesses retain and attract new talent. Employers should foster open communication, be approachable for employees, and demonstrate empathy in their actions at all times. 

  • Promote Adaptable Work Schedules 

Another strategy to ensure employees stay longer in organizations is to adopt and promote work-hour flexibility. By going for work schedules that are either compressed, allow remote work, or otherwise, employers allow employees to have more time to deal with their own personal obligations. 

  • Promote Team Building

Team building activities can help inculcate a sense of unity and mutual respect towards coworkers. When employees are provided a team environment where they have positive interactions with their team members and feel connected to them, it is more than likely that they feel engaged and valued. Anything from developmental workshops to causal social events and group tasks can help inculcate a sense of coherence amongst employees. 

  • Cultivate a Feedback Culture

One way employees can learn and grow in organizations is by offering regular feedback to them. Feedback that is both constructive and positive can help employees learn their current levels of performance, identify areas of learning and growth, as well as carve a path of development for them. Employers can also build stronger connections with their subordinates through open communication and feedback. 

  • Reduce Employee Burnout

While employee burnout is usually perceived to be influenced by actual workload, it is not always the case. In fact, a study by Gallup recognized that burnout may also be influenced by how employees “perceive” their workload to be. Engaged, motivated, and well-rewarded employees are more likely to experience lower levels of burnout than those who aren’t. 

  •  Offer Cool Job Perks

Almost all organizations today are offering facilities such as good healthcare and flexible work schedules. In order to be one step ahead in the employee retention game, employers can offer cool job perks on travel, food, car rentals, and more. There are many such services that organizations can make use of to offer employee discounts.