Top reasons staff leave

Given the amount of time we spend at work, it’s understandable that if a colleague or employee were to leave, the impact within the business may be far-reaching. The Australian Human Resources Institute published a report on turnover and retention in 2015 and found that turnover was at 16% but why are people leaving? Below are the top 4 reasons staff leave according to this report, well at least the 4 which I believe you, as an employer have some control over.

1. Lack of Opportunity – I was talking with a friend the other day who is looking to leave her company after well-over 10 years with them. The reason? She can’t see what her next role will be. While she’s been very well nurtured over the years, her superior has sat, and continues to sit comfortably in his position with no sign of change. I share this story to highlight the importance of Professional Development Plans at all levels, from the bottom all the way to the very top.

2. Poor Relationship with your Manager – while it’s difficult to avoid personality clashes, as a senior member of the business, it is possible ensure all your staff are being sufficiently nurtured and are feeling valued in the business. It could be as simple as organising fun activities outside of work, or as above, completing professional development with your team.

3. Poor Work / Life Balance – These days, there is an increased focus on health and family, and as such, many employees are looking for work-life balance in an employer, employees are looking for workplaces which offer some type of flexibility in their employment. It could be that they’re able to work from home or, maybe they’re able to come in earlier or later to avoid traffic. Take a look at Fair Work Australia to be aware of your rights as an employer are.

4. Insufficient Training & Development– it’s unsettling to start a new job and feel you don’t know what to do or who to talk to about it. It’s important to ensure all your staff, from your vet nurses to your sales team, are confident and capable of performing their role. Whether you use an external training team, offer continuing education or empower your own staff to train their colleagues, the benefits will far out way the costs.

If you’d like to find out more about how to avoid making these mistakes in your workplace, and to ensure you’re finding the right people for your business, give me a call to discuss how I can assist you.

Shannon Wood, Managing Director S8 Expert Recruitment Solutions. I have over 14 years recruitment experience specialising in the animal health industry across the ANZ region. Areas of expertise include sales and marketing, technical roles (Quality Assurance, Quality Control & Regulatory Affairs) and operational & financial positions. I work extensively in the veterinary, ruminant, monogastric, aquaculture and the pet specialty industries and I look forward to the next 14 years.