Employee Retention Process - Lessons We Can Learn From Happily Married Couples - Part 2
Employee Engagement, Employee Relations, Rewards and Recognition
On Job - Now you are married
Now, at last, you got married and have decided to stay together for the rest of your life. Getting married doesn't assure you that you will have a successful marriage. You have a probation period, which in companies is usually for six months to one year; however, I think in marriage there is no specific duration. But over a period of staying together, you both start understanding each other well and the ship of your marriage is smoothly sailing in the ocean of life, that only a strong Tsunami can rock your ship.
Similarly, if an employee has successfully spent 5 years in your organization then it should take something really big to happen to break that relation.
- Breach of trust
- Bankruptcy
- Exiting from Business
- Global Role
- Enormously huge salary package or a jump of 2-3 level in designation, ill-health.
In short, there should be a major accident or sudden change of affairs.
Agreed that the things are not exactly in the same way...same manner as were promised to you, so now there is a need to make some adjustments, some compromises. Once you get married to your employer then you realize that the information that has been given to you is not 100% correct, your team members and other colleagues in the office don't like you; the work environment is not very cordial; there are some misunderstandings; miscommunication; the promises that were made before the employment...the boss is not willing to keep all promises. But you still like to stay in the relation and want to give your best. Adjustment and compromise is required. Once you are married, keeping the trust and faith is important, proper communication is very crucial, feedback is the backbone and motivation, regular but genuine appreciation is a tonic.
I think if we take care of these things...employee will stay with the company for a long time. Do you like to add anything in this?
Resignation, Exit Interview – Divorce
You tried your best to compromise for mutual growth, adjust with each other but then realized that the things are not working and you should better go in different direction. Now, that the thought of "Divorce" has already crossed the mind of your partner...now that your employee has already decided to leave the organization, you are sitting across the table for an exit interview. You can hardly do anything to change his mind but you can still make an attempt. Things have reached to this level...it means that you have not done enough. There was no growth in the organization but there is a chance, though very bleak...to save this relation.
Like marriage...you breached the trust of your partner, there were many restrictions, you were taking your partner for granted and hence...reached the stage of divorce, but still you can save your relation.
Though it is very late, you were not able to give enough growth to the person; you were not able to give a balanced work-life; your reward system was not good enough to keep him motivated. On the other side, you were not able to give enough time, love, care and space to your partner; you failed to understand and adjust with your partner; there was a breach of trust. Still, you can make efforts...make attempts to RETAIN YOUR EMPLOYEE and SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE.
At least learn from your mistakes and try not to repeat such mistakes in future.
HR Department - Your in-laws
- HR Department can give you infrastructure, facilities to ensure that you give your best.
- They can make employee friendly policies, processes and procedures to ensure that you grow in the organization...as a person, as a professional.
- They can create reward and recognition process
- They can ensure proper communication process; make sure that you are heard.
- They can give regular feedback, appreciation and recognition.
- They can coach and mentor you
- They can give training to your boss; give coaching to your boss, if his management style is not good.
Just like your in-laws, who take care of your house, your kids, when you go out to work? They help you, in preparing the dinner. They ensure that you get respect and care in the family. They ensure that you are heard for your ideas and opinion. Get an appreciation for your work.
Conclusion
Just look at the employer-employee relation in this perspective. Your boss is your spouse. Your Team Members are your in-laws. Other Colleagues in the organization are your relatives. Doesn't matter what others talk about you...it is important what your boss...your spouse think and talk good about you. Before making cordial relation with your relatives...it is important to have positive relations with your team-members. As you know people don't leave organizations...they leave bosses. Similarly, if marriage is not working...people go for divorce because their partners are not good. No one opts for divorce because of the reason that their in-laws are not good...or their relatives don't like them.