e acka e — and listening
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Remember, the total henefrls of a job are increasingly important when it comes to staff retention whether you're hiring a driver, fitter or senior manager. With growing concern over pensions and the heafth service, offering financial packages which include medical cover, pension contributions and even share incentive programmes, which offer tax breaks for staff holding shares in the company, will be attractive. Sensible working hours, reasonable paid holiday entitlement and decent wokng conditions will, of course, all help.
Talking to staff regularly, and allowing them to talk to you, also helps. It is possible to have a tough, demanding workplace which still allows people to contribute. 'This isn't about being touchy-feel' says Steve Huxham. 'People who do the job probably have a wealth of ideas on how to run the business. Do you give them the chance to tell you?" Moreover, if you do have a high turnover of staff it's probably time to sit down and ask yourself why. Your terms and conditions, and ultimately your attitude to staff, could be at the very heart of the problem.