Are We Headed for an Employee Retention Crisis?

Here are a few interesting job-related stats:

• 10-14 jobs will be held by the average employee entering the workforce today by age 38
  
  
• Over half of all employees plan to leave their current job after the recession ends
  
  
• 71% of Gen Y employees expect to find a new job after the recession
  
  
• 1 out of 4 employees has been with their current employer for less than a year
  
  
• 50% of employees have been with their current employer less than 5 years

How does HR respond to the new career expectations of today's employees? Success seems to depend a good onboarding processes and engaging new hires starting on day one. (Read up on tools for making employees feel welcome and appreciated - employee recognition tools)

What is the HR leader's role in building long-term employee relationships?

Onboarding - First Impression Recognition

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression." A line that should probably go down in the Catch Phrase Hall of Fame, right next to "Where's the beef?" and "Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids!"

Clearly one of the reasons it has stood the test of time is the simple truth of the message. First impressions impact our perceptions of people, situations, and organizations. As business leaders, we have a unique opportunity to make a great first impression with new hires from a recognition standpoint at the onset of an employee's tenure with our business. Setting the tone for a new employee's career early will better align you for long term successful relationship. Ensuring that the on-boarding process is a real positive experience lays a strong foundation for a fruitful relationship.

More and more businesses are taking steps like Pre-Hire Recognition Survey

(http://www.terryberry.com/recognition_resources.htm) to learn more about these individual's personal recognition preferences. Does he have a favorite candy bar or soft drink? Does she enjoying being singled out or would she prefer a lower key celebration of her achievements? This type of information allows the manager and the business to recognize the new addition to team in a manner that insures the highest level of engagement and appreciation.

Oh, it also lets you make a great first impression, when the new team member gets to their workspace on the first day to find a Twix Twin bar and a Vitamin Water along with a personal "welcome aboard" note waiting for them!