Over the last year and a half, employees from all sectors dealt with an unfortunate situation; millions of employees joined a mass exodus from the workplace. Human resources specialists have tried explaining the Great Resignation, and reports indicate that limited career development, inadequate salaries, general unhappiness, and poor-life balance are the main factors that triggered the mass exodus.

The pandemic spurred the Great Resignation trend because it transformed employment into a worker's market. TikTok has started trends like "act your wage" and "quit quitting" and encouraged employees to join communities that share the same opinions regarding employment. People want to feel appreciated and valued by their employers, and if they're not, they have no second thoughts before searching for another job.

While workers decide what's best for them, companies must reconsider their values and figure out what makes them worth working for. If the Great Resignation impacted your business, here are some strategies you should employ to level up your retention game and keep your talent.

Work-life balance shouldn't be negotiable

As mentioned earlier, poor work-life balance is one of the main factors that triggered the mass exodus of employees quitting their jobs, and you should ensure your workforce feels encouraged to engage in activities that relax them outside the office. One of the most effective ways to boost employee retention is to make work-life balance non-negotiable. Surveys show that more and more people are dealing with burnout because remote work blurs the line between home life and work. Your human resources team should prioritise setting expectations regarding how much your employees are expected to work.

It's recommended to offer your team remote work options and flexible work hours to keep them happy and prevent turnover. Workers these days appreciate being able to choose when and where they work, and this benefit can be a big selling point if you want to attract new talent.

When employees first shifted to work from home at the beginning of the pandemic, some managers were trying to micromanage their employees' work-life balance, but as expected, it backfired and triggered even higher stress levels. Show your employees that you trust them to use their time wisely instead of telling them how to spend it outside work hours.

Offer competitive hourly wages or base salaries

You want to make your employees feel valued to stop them from looking for other job opportunities, and the best way to do it is to offer a wage worthy of their hard work and sacrifice. All workers are looking for proper compensation when it comes to a work position, and it's one of the most decisive factors on their list. You'll manage to retain employees only if you pay them what their work and time are worth.

When you establish their salaries, consider how much their time and work are worth, the cost of living in the area where they live, and the rising inflation. Also, when their responsibility increases, reward them accordingly to motivate them to continue to work for your company. Human resources specialists state that the first thing to do when establishing salaries is to identify the average living wage in your area. Then research your competition to find out what it offers in terms of wages, salaries and benefits.

Upgrade your wellness and mental health benefits

During the pandemic, more and more adults reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, and most of them are counting on their employers and human resources departments to support healthy mental health practices in the workplace. Therefore, in addition to your sick leave package, you should also set mental health days your employees can take. This benefit prevents your workforce from dealing with burnout and enables them to manage their mental health.

When you create your wellness package, make sure to evaluate the workspace to identify potential dangers that could cause personal injuries. Your employees should work in a danger-free space so they can feel comfortable and safe. The specialists from Compensation Calculator UK state that it's the moment for companies to go beyond offering a hybrid remote work environment and create a workspace that reflects the company culture and provide the employees with all necessary means to complete their work tasks.

Reward your employees for their work

Retaining employees who feel recognised and rewarded for their work is easier, and studies show that satisfied employees are more willing to work harder and therefore are more productive. Unfortunately, a small number of people feel recognised and rewarded by their employers, so taking a step in this direction could bring you a competitive edge.

There are countless ways to reward and recognise your workers, but it's crucial to prioritise monetary rewards and social recognition because your employees want more than a big salary; they also want to be publicly recognised. Financial rewards can come in the form of gift cards, straightforward cash, paid time off, or other perks. You could ask your employees what they prefer in terms of rewards to ensure you provide them with the benefit they most need.

You should recognise both your employees' results and efforts because, unfortunately, sometimes projects don't end as expected. This can disappoint your company and employees, but it's crucial to encourage them to try harder next time.

Create a corporate culture your employees want to be part of

An effective way to retain employees is to create a work culture that your workers want to be part of. Studies show that corporate culture is one of the factors employees looking for a job consider. Two-thirds of people cite good company culture as a decisive reason not to leave their employer.

Creating a great company culture requires adopting some of the above retention strategies. Make sure your employees feel valued, reward them accordingly, take care of their mental and physical health, and encourage them to maintain a work-life balance.

Whether the Great Resignation impacts your business or not, it's essential to discuss with your HR department to develop employee retention strategies for a brighter future for your business.