EFFECTIVE EMPLOYEE RETENTION

“The management training from Oakland Family Services assisted our associates in more successfully leading a diverse population by raising awareness of employee issues and understanding techniques to address conflict and praise success”. Client company testimonial

Employee retention benefits both employees and employers. For workers, staying on the job leads to greater opportunities for wage gains and promotions at work as well as increased overall stability in their lives.  Employers enjoy the benefits of reduced employee turnover and the related expenses.

Employee turnover is one of the largest costs in organizations, yet it is one of the most unknown costs.  The Society for Human Resource Management estimates that it costs $3,500 to replace one $8.00 per hour employee when all costs – recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, and reduced productivity are taken into consideration.  Other sources provide estimates as high as 30-50% of the annual salary of an entry-level employee. While some turnover is unavoidable and desirable, most turnover, is largely avoidable.

One of the most at-risk work groups for turnover is low wage, low skill employees.  Three factors are among the leading impediments to job retention among low wage earners:
  • Low “soft skills” in the employment environment (e.g., problem-solving, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills and work ethic)
  • Quality of supervisor/manager’s skills to manage people, particularly employees with low soft skills
  • Competing life issues (problems with childcare, transportation, health, including substance abuse and mental health issues, and other family disruptions and issues)

Oakland Family Services developed an intensive post-employment support model designed to increase employee retention based on the findings and recommendations of workforce development studies across the country.

Services offered include:

  • Employee training teaching and practicing skills to improve job retention
  • Manager training to teach skills that can be used to magage more efficiently and address barriers to employee retention
  • Job Coaches for employees that assist them in reaching higher potential and in problem-solving barriers to getting to work, such as transportation and childcare, and linking them with needed services
  • A 24/7 hotline available to employees and managers

Oakland Family Services works with employers to customize the program to meet the needs of their organization and workforce.

Oakland Family Services is currently working with a number of employers in the tri-county area through funding from the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. 

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORKFORCE RETENTION PROJECT?

To learn more about the Workforce Retention Project, please contact Kim McAuliffe at (248) 858-7766 ext 227 or email at kmcauliffe@ofsfamily.org.