Technology is revolutionizing every sector of the economy. But technology itself undergoes continuous “revolutions” at “warp speed.” In this environment, technology-based companies must recruit, employ, and then retain the talented people they are able to acquire. This is a tall order in the competitive market place of IT professionals who are in high demand.
The key to retaining the talent that you hire is to create the right environment – one that results in a high level of job satisfaction on the part of employees.
At Brainberry, we believe we have hit upon the right combination of elements that result in employee satisfaction. And because of this, our turnover rate is minimal.
Here are the elements we believe to be most important in creating that right environment:
1. Collaborative Relationships
Our work is project-based and relies upon teams that can work in a successful collaborative environment. This does not mean just a professional environment. Because team members work so closely together, it is important that they have successful personal relationships too. We plan activities that allow for social interaction, and when new members are onboarded, we take special care for them to come to know our entire staff.
One of the reasons that this is so important is that our teams are fluid, depending upon the projects at hand.
2. No Micromanagement
This has been identified as a major source of employee dissatisfaction in the workplace. At Brainberry, we focus on collaborative goal-setting by a team, the delegation of tasks to achieve that goal, and then the team goes to work. Periodic, scheduled full meetings occur, of course. And there are open lines of communication among all team members and between team members and their leaders, so that issues can be resolved quickly and work continue. We have hired top talent, and we trust our team members to produce and to meet deadlines. They do not disappoint us.
3. Opportunities for Growth
All of our employees have specific high-tech skills in development. But they also have personal career goals that go beyond their current skill levels. And, as rapidly as technology itself is expanding, we do all that we can to provide training and development that is uniquely designed for our needs, but also for the needs and desires of our amazing staff members. When companies demonstrate that they are committed to the career goals of their employees and then translate that commitment into providing training and development, employees understand that they are valued by their employer. Understanding that they can grow within their current employment situation is a strong motivation to stay right where they are.
4. Salary and Benefits
A survey conducted by FRACTL and reported in an article of the Harvard Business Review has shown that millennials and Gen Z’ers have a very different attitude toward salary and benefits than their predecessors. In fact, of those surveyed, the majority prioritized some very specific benefits over salary increases. These benefits included good health insurance, of course, but included other things such as flexible work hours and vacation time, the ability to work remotely, reimbursement for additional training and development costs, and “cafeteria” options, such as gym memberships. This speaks to the importance these generations place on work-life balance – a major break from prior generations who were focused primarily on salary and health insurance.
At Brainberry, we understand the priorities of these generations. As a result, we have put systems in place that allow remote work when feasible, flexible hours, and a focus on task completion, as opposed to the traditional “time clock punching” priorities of more traditional organizations. When employees know what they must accomplish and when, and when we give them the autonomy and independence to meet those requirements on their terms, we have loyal staff members who meet those requirements. As well, we encourage our employees to tell us what they prefer in benefits. When they have options that we can honor and offer, their satisfaction increases. Of course, salary is still important, and we pay well for the talent we get in return.
5. Meaningful and Challenging Work
No tech employee is happy working on a plateau – completing the same tasks over and over again. To have enthusiasm for his work, an employee wants challenges that will stretch his skills and cause him to take initiative and to learn new things. When his employer assigns challenging work, it is a message to that employee that the organization has faith in his ability to do what is necessary to meet its expectations.
6. Recognition
It’s human nature. While there is a personal satisfaction when we accomplish something, we also like for that accomplishment to be recognized by others. In the workplace, public recognition goes a long way to boost employee morale, and, in the case of a team environment, that recognition should be provided to entire teams as well as to individuals for their specific contributions. In the world of technology, there is lots of room for creative problem-solving, especially in project work, and that should be publicly recognized.
These Six…
If an organization can focus on just these six elements of a workplace environment, they will find that morale and job satisfaction remains high. And when satisfaction is high, so is productivity. It’s a win-win.