It might seem impossible to attract and retain high-quality hourly workers, but there are a few proven solutions you can implement to quickly stabilize staffing levels. In addition to using Sprockets’ Applicant Matching System to boost retention by 43%, we recommend creating career pathways for your employees.
While many business owners and operators have raised wages to attract job seekers, that’s only a piece of the puzzle. It has increased applicant flow in some cases, but it’s a short-term solution. Workers who aren’t engaged or don’t feel a sense of loyalty to your business are likely to leave once a competitor offers an even higher wage. Consider providing employee growth opportunities so workers see their role as less of a job and more of a long-term career.
The Importance of Creating Career Pathways for Employees
1. It Helps Attract Applicants
A company’s culture and core values can significantly influence a job seeker’s decision to apply for a position. When you promote the fact that hourly employees have access to career growth plans, it shows people that you value their individual success and well-being. Be sure to include this in your job postings, company website, and even social media profiles.
2. It Can Boost Retention
A study conducted by WorldatWork revealed that employers who do not invest in training and developing employees will ultimately lose them to competitors. So, you can either deal with costly turnover or boost productivity and engagement by offering career growth opportunities. The return on investment makes it incredibly worthwhile to simply outline career pathways and conduct a little extra training.
3. It Reduces Hiring Costs
The savings don’t stop with retention. It’s much more cost-effective to hire from within, and these loyal employees already know the ins and outs of the business. External hires actually tend to score worse on performance reviews and are 61% more likely to get fired despite having more industry experience. Save money by saving your current employees!
Tips for How to Create a Career Pathway Plan
Be Transparent
You don’t want to be that employer who makes empty promises. Clearly define the roles and steps to climb the ladder so you can accurately discuss the process with potential hires. And, if you can’t offer career growth opportunities, let them know. It’s better to be transparent than deal with disgruntled employees and negative reviews on job sites.
Discuss the Employee’s Goals
These development opportunities and training programs should be mutually beneficial for both employers and employees. That’s why it’s crucial to meet with workers, particularly in a one-on-one setting, to talk about where they see themselves at the company. Have an open conversation and work together on a plan to help them achieve their goals.
Set up SMART Objectives
The career development plan that you create should include SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound). This ensures there’s no confusion about what the employee needs to accomplish to reach their ideal position with the company. It also keeps a record of what you’ve discussed, sets realistic expectations, and makes it easy to track progress.
Predict Applicant Success — Before the Interview
Creating career pathways can be a complete waste of time if you don’t hire the right applicants. Some job seekers are simply looking for a quick paycheck and will leave within a few months no matter what incentives you set up for them. Luckily, Sprockets’ AI-powered solution identifies which applicants will succeed and stay long-term.
Sprockets eliminates wasted interview time, reduces costly turnover, and enables you to focus on daily operations. It’s proven to work and trusted by numerous businesses, like a Bojangles franchise group that achieved 95% employee retention in 90 days during the peak of the labor crisis!
See how Sprockets works and get all your questions answered with a free 15-minute demo!