Employee Retention & Workplace Health and Safety

HR Blog - Recruitment and Retention Series

In 2019, employees in the province of British Columbia (Canada) missed more than three million days of work due to work-related incidents. As a business owner and employer, it’s your responsibility to try and protect the health and safety of your employees by preventing workplace injuries. Prioritizing the safety of your employees not only helps protect them from potentially tragic injuries and reduces the costs associated with missed time, but it also helps drive employee retention.

No employee wants to sacrifice their personal safety for an employer who does not care about them. When employees do not feel safe at work, they are likely to seek other employment. A strong safety program that emphasizes communication and injury prevention will improve your ability to retain employees for the long term. A commitment and investment in health and safety is the best way to protect your greatest resource – your people.

Workplace safety and employee retention are closely tied in the following ways:

1. Improved Communication: Without open communication, employees will not feel confident in voicing safety concerns. It’s critical for companies to provide clear and frequent communication about safety policies and protocols as well as workplace safety incidents. If safety improvements are made in response to an incident, employees should be made aware and reassured that workplace safety is a priority. Open communication about health and safety is also essential so that employees can feel comfortable raising concerns or questions.
2. Reduced Incidents: When employees experience a workplace injury or see colleagues injured, they lose trust in the organization. If employees do not believe that the organization cares about their safety, they will look for new employment where they feel valued and safe at work.
3. Improved Morale: When employees feel safe at work, they will be happier and more productive. Constant concern about the risk of injury impedes the ability of employees to focus on their responsibilities. A safe work environment is a fundamental part of creating a workplace where employees can be successful and grow.
4. Increased Productivity: Implementing safety programs designed to reduce injuries helps employees succeed in their roles and remain productive on a day-to-day basis.

Particularly for companies operating in higher-risk industries, workplace safety can be a key driver of employee retention. It’s also important to consider the influence that a company’s safety reputation has on the ability to attract top talent. A strong culture of workplace safety can provide a competitive advantage when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent.

Sincron HR Software

Using the Sincron HR platform managers can launch health and safety committees, save meeting minutes, and share events. Managers and employees can note and raise safety concerns while HR can periodically post surveys to track employee morale and garner feedback on this critical issue. In addition:

• The platform allows organizations to integrate their strategic planning objectives and KPIs into performance management
• Sincron HR configures the platform to ensure organizations meet or exceed industry/accreditation standards
• The new HR Essentials platform is now available for just $2/month per employee
• Training and tech support (call, text, video library, etc.) is included

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