Employee Loyalty - It's NOT for Sale!

Lavish perks and trendy benefits are nice, but employees seek something much more basic from their bosses: empathy, respect and appreciation.

According to research conducted by Gallup, 75% of workers who voluntarily left their jobs did so because of their bosses and not the position itself. When employees feel disconnected, undervalued, and unappreciated, it doesn’t take long for them to jump ship and look for another job that will recognize their contributions. Often poor management lies at the heart of an employee’s departure. Employees are loyal to their boss before they are to the organization. In the end, people don't quit their jobs. They quit their bosses.

Many managers think that employees are automatically loyal just because they’re getting a regular paycheck. The truth is loyalty isn’t for sale. Loyalty has to be earned. All the money, perks or well-structured team building exercises, will not retain employees if you keep treating them poorly. Employees yearn for good bosses. A recent study found that 65% of employees would rather have a better boss than a salary increase. A good boss makes such the difference because a boss who doesn't trust or value you, will not give you opportunities to grow and develop.

Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don't want to.

Employees are the backbone of any organization. In order to remain strong in an industry, employees have to be kept happy. Ultimately having a culture that promotes open communication, fairness, teamwork, camaraderie and a family atmosphere helps to retain good employees. Employees with strong bonds to those they work with, are usually the most engaged and tend to stay longer at companies they work for.

Furthermore, when people leave your organization, find out why. In one study, 89% of managers surveyed said they thought most employees leave for better pay. However, another study found that 88% of employees who quit did so for something other than money. Clearly, there is often a disconnect between managers and employees about what motivates an employee to leave.

Consequently, when people stay with your organization, find out why (Stay Interviews). Here’s the reality: Employees are only as loyal to the company as they believe the company is loyal to them. Loyalty is a two-way street. You can't buy loyalty; You must earn it! So in the end, building an organization of committed, loyal employees ultimately comes down to demonstrating to employees that the company deserves their loyalty. It all comes down to how you treat people.

Sometimes it's the little things we do that counts the most. It's the simple things people remember. The simple gesture, the kind word, the much needed support. It's doesn't cost much to show employees you genuinely care, but it can make the biggest difference in keeping them loyal, happy and engaged.