The Importance of Staff Retention

Are you currently asking yourself why you can't hold onto good employees lately? You know that your business cannot afford the high costs associated with your ongoing employee turnover…. Then it’s time to investigate what's behind your retention issues and take action to solve this problem which is common throughout the aesthetics industry.

Resolving retention issues involves some excellent research and listening skills, but, most importantly, being true to yourself. Would you work in your employee's shoes? What are your answers to the following questions?

• Are you hiring candidates who are a good match for the position?
• Are your retention problems occurring across your business or under certain Managers? 
• Are you aware of the salons/spas are recruiting from the same talent pool you are? What do they offer?
• Are you painting an accurate picture of the job and your spa/salon culture when you are interviewing? 
• Are your salaries & benefits competitive with other salons/spas in your area? 
• Does your salon invest in developing employees? How much and how often?
• Do you provide advancement opportunities? What are they?
• Do you allow your employees to assist in major decisions? Do you empower the staff to decide what systems work best for them? 
• Do you praise you staff regularly? The quality of your encouragement can make or break your operation.
• Do your employees feel 'engaged' in your business? This is easily identified in Performance Appraisals.
• Does your staff truly understand and support the goals of the organisation? 
• Do you discuss openly the budget factors you must consider in making final decisions - do they understand why they can’t have the new Spa expansion this year?
• Do you provide recognition and rewards? 
• Do you lead by example - do you roll up your sleeves now and then and be that all important 'team-player'?
• Do you support employees in attaining a Work-Life balance?
• Are you conducting exit interviews? If so, what does that data tell you? If you are not undertaking Exit interviews, why not?
• If you asked any one of you staff at any time - could they tell you what your business Mission Statement is?

Start your investigation by asking yourself and your Management team these questions and you will soon see where your ‘retention management’ is falling down. With a structured Management Strategy you will soon see an increase in your staffs retention ratios, your client retention ratios and ultimately your “bottom line”.