A new threat has emerged for company owners across the UK — the Great Resignation. But what is the Great Resignation and how can your business use IT to tackle this current staffing crisis? In the first article of our new #TechTalks series, our IT support experts have put together a list of IT tips that could improve employee retention in your company.
What is the Great Resignation?
In early 2021, large numbers of businesses in the UK were left in a precarious position as employees started leaving their jobs in droves. Named ‘The Great Resignation’, it was initially believed that this trend of people resigning from their jobs was a result of the uncertainty of the pandemic.
However, on closer inspection, the pandemic may have been the trigger that led people to rethink their work-life balance, but new priorities for employees are the driving force for rising quit rates across all industries.
Today, as Covid-19 continues to dwindle not only in the UK but globally, resignation letters are still stacking up for many businesses. According to a recent survey carried out by PwC, nearly one in five UK workers are either extremely or very likely to seek new employment within the next 12 months, highlighting that the Great Resignation continues to be a real obstacle for employers.
Why employee retention is important
Let’s be honest, recruiting new employees is a lengthy, and often costly, process. Finding good staff isn’t always easy. This means when your business lands a first-rate hire, it is crucial that you keep them.
Ensuring that your company is less of a revolving door and more of a one-way street for employees will not only boost your firm’s productivity but ultimately increase your revenue. Figures show companies with an engaged workforce achieve 23% higher profits compared to those with dissatisfied employees. Therefore, investing in your current employees is a win-win for everyone involved.
How tech can improve employee retention
Here are just some of the ways embracing modern technologies could have a positive impact on your employee retention rates.
1. It supports remote or hybrid working
If the last two years have shown us anything, it is that remote working is a viable option for many businesses.
Now more than ever staff are looking for flexibility in their work lives. Refusing employees the option to work from home could be a deciding factor between remaining at your company or looking for alternative employment. Recent research indicates that 97% of employees would like to work remotely at least some of the time.
With assistance from cloud platforms and IT communication services, it has never been easier to offer a more flexible work-life for employees while still maintaining strong levels of communication and collaboration across your workforce.
Cloud-backed solutions offer businesses a flexible and scalable way to remotely store data, resources, and applications. A hosted desktop allows your employees to securely access your IT systems while outside of the office, enabling easier home working.
Additionally, by utilising IT communication solutions, you can provide your staff with a hybrid approach to work without compromising your organisation’s productivity levels. From internet services to telephone systems, upgrading your current communication solutions will ensure your workforce stays connected when working remotely or in-office.
2. It can streamline the onboarding process for new staff
For new hires, first impressions matter and how your company is initially perceived can have a lasting effect. An efficient and effective onboarding process is more likely to result in satisfied employees.
IT can help you to establish a more seamless and organised onboarding process in a variety of ways, meaning less time spent drowning in volumes of paperwork and more time welcoming new employees to your business.
There is a range of software available for businesses that can support the onboarding process through automation. From document management and new starter checklists to automated communications, onboarding software can save you or your HR team a lot of time and stress.
Using a centralised cloud platform can also help to make those initial administrative tasks that are unavoidable during the onboarding process feel more hassle-free from the offset by allowing you to store files in one easily accessible, remote location.
3. It offers employee training opportunities
A company that focuses on training and professional development for its employees will attract new starters, while also helping to retain longstanding staff members.
Investing resources in educating your employees not only demonstrates a commitment to their progression but creates a more knowledgeable workforce that will benefit your business in the long run.
From an IT perspective, as cybercrime continues to be a major threat to businesses, cyber security training for your team is a great way to provide your employees with valuable insight into cyber security practices, while helping to fortify your company’s virtual defences.
4. It can be used to provide employee recognition
Recognising your employee’s accomplishments and achievements is a positive way of motivating your team. After all, who doesn’t like to feel appreciated?
Introducing new forms of employee recognition to your workplace allows co-workers to acknowledge each other’s contributions. Rewards software programmes, such as Kudos, can help to foster a positive and motivating work culture that people will enjoy being a part of.
5. It can improve internal communication
Internal communication processes can play a crucial role when it comes to building strong work connections, boosting productivity, and improving employee retention.
Microsoft Teams is one of the most widely used communications software, providing organisations with a user-friendly internal communications system that makes it easy for co-workers across your business to communicate, share, and collaborate in real-time online. The communications platform also benefits from a range of video meeting features.
If you already use Teams, find out how you can create more secure and efficient meetings with our Top Tips Thursday insight.
How Infuse can help
It is time to take employee retention seriously, and IT support from Infuse can help!
Whether you’re looking to outsource your IT department, or you need support with your IT strategy, we offer a comprehensive range of IT services tailored to the needs and objectives of your business.
For more information on how our IT services can benefit your business and employees, get in touch with us today. Our Derby based team of IT support specialists has extensive experience in helping companies like yours take control of their IT systems.