In February 2012, 2.1 million people resigned from their jobs in the United States (according to the U.S. Labor Department). That is the highest number on record since the beginning of the Great Depression. Where did they go and why did they leave?
Studies from late last year warned of a mass exodus of workers from U.S. jobs, with as many as 1/3 of all workers expected to leave in 2012. The 2.1 million people leaving their jobs in February may just be the tip of the iceberg.
So why are people quitting their jobs?
Did they win the lotto or find better jobs? Are they dropping out and turning on to… some new counterculture phenomenon? Is there a new Magic Bus driving around the U.S. recruiting people for who knows what with who knows who?
Probably not.
The Conference Board has been researching employee satisfaction for 25 years and they’ve found that more than half of people in the U.S. basically hate their jobs. Employee discontent is at all-time highs and even in this weak economy, workers just can’t take it anymore.
What This Means For Startups
Company culture, worker happiness, and job satisfaction… these may seem like concepts which only apply to large corporations but they should mean even more to small businesses and startup owners.
Many of us don’t have the megabucks to recruit and hire top talent in our industries, so we need to focus on hiring the best people we possibly can AND on keeping them for as long as possible.
But how can we as small business owners ensure that our staff’s job satisfaction is off the charts?
Top 3 Ways To Promote Job Satisfaction
1. Address Workers’ Personal Needs – Everyone needs to feel appreciated and valued. They want to know that the work they do is valuable and that they are respected by their boss and their company. More than money, people want to know that their bosses are genuinely interested in them as people. Take the time to get to know your employees as people – even if that means you have to listen to them rattle on about their new baby or what their wife cooked for dinner last night. They will appreciate being appreciated.
2. Recognize Top Performers – Everyone also wants to be recognized for a job well done.
A little praise and acknowledgement can go a long way when it comes to your staff’s job satisfaction. Make sure all praise is genuine and deserved.
3. Be Caring and Supportive – Sometimes people quit their jobs for more money elsewhere but usually they quit because they want to FEEL better about the work they do, the company they work for, and/or about themselves. Be caring and supportive to your staff in order to preempt employee turnover in the future. Get to know your staff on a personal level.
What are their dreams? How can you help them achieve those dreams? Tell your staff how valuable they are to you and to the organization.
Preventing employee turnover and increasing job satisfaction isn’t just the right thing to do for your employees – it’s the right thing to do for your business. It is cost effective and well worth the time.
