Many employers look to employee loyalty as an expectation, rather than an organizational goal. However, for employees, loyalty is viewed as quite the opposite; something that an organization should earn through mutually beneficial working conditions and effort committed. Here a 5 keys to earning employee loyalty and retaining a more productive and sustainable workforce.
- It’s not the money: While fair and generous compensation are important when making arrangements with both new and existing employees, overcompensating can actually compromise an employee's true loyalty to an organization. If significantly overcompensated, employees will stay just for the money and not because they believe in the mission of the organization, or the work that they do. Employees should be compensated generously, but not so much that they lose sight of their mission and purpose. Valuing employees is as important as employees valuing the organization, beyond the paycheck it provides. A great way to supplement compensation is to add an employee’s incentive program, offering small rewards such as low denomination gift cards to employees who go significantly above and beyond their responsibilities.
- Pride and ownership: Organizational leaders have a dream and a vision for a company. Employees help to shape and bring that dream to fruition. It is important to give employees their own piece of that dream, and ensure that they feel the impact they make. When employees feel ownership of a part of their organization they take pride in their work and build loyalty, productivity, and longevity.
- Company attitude: Companies adopt attitudes, and those attitudes are initially set from the top down. If you want loyal employees, then make that your company's collective attitude. Happy employees should be loyal and if treated well, they will maintain a consistent feedback loop to ensure you meet their needs and are open to their ideas, creating an attitude of loyalty should come naturally. Build up this attitude gradually, but make sure your employees catch on and evangelize that attitude.
