A couple of generations ago, it was not uncommon for people to spend their entire careers at just a couple of different companies. Today, employees are far more likely to switch positions every few years to boost their job title and pay rate. This can be a good move for employees, but consistently replacing staff is a big financial undertaking.

You may think that stay interviews are just for office jobs and do not have a place in the construction industry, and this is not the case.

It is essential to let employees know what they are doing well and what they need to improve. Still, it is also essential to make sure that you are hearing from your employees about their experience, what they feel they need to grow, and what—if anything—they would like to change about their work environment.

Conducting stay interviews can make a tremendous difference in both your retention rate and your employees’ satisfaction levels. Take a look at some of the most significant benefits, and then start implementing them within your organization.

Be open to feedback

One of the biggest reasons employees start to look for new opportunities is that there are aspects of their current job that they do not like, and they do not believe that these things will change.

Ask your employees what they love about their positions and also what they believe needs to be improved. Find out if they feel like they need additional support or resources. The most important aspect is to take this criticism to heart then and implement the changes discussed.

Actively participate in your employees’ career trajectory

While you are thinking about your bottom line and more effective business strategies, your employees are thinking about what their careers will look like in the next five, ten years. If you want your top employees to be around to help you build the future of your construction company, you also need to be actively helping them work toward their personal goals.

Ask employees what skills they are most interested in honing. Ensure you know what types of projects they most enjoy working on and where they want to be in the next X years. Then make a concerted effort to give your employees these opportunities.

Remember that actions speak louder than words

Actively having these conversations with employees is only the first step to increasing employee retention and improving workplace morale. But you need to take this feedback to heart and follow through if it will make any meaningful difference in the long run. By regularly conducting stay interviews and maintaining an ongoing and open dialogue, you will have happier employees that stay with you for years.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash