Retention and Wellbeing Post-Covid, what are the smart employers are doing?
It’s less a return to work as much as a hesitant, maybe-one-day-a-week trickle now, and HR departments are struggling to make pre-Covid staffing levels anything more tangible than a distant halcyon memory. With 40.7% of professionals claiming they plan to look for new positions this year, it would appear that we are emerging from an existential as well as health crisis.
So what can be done? And what are these seductive other employers now offering?
We have spent a significant amount of time asking both leavers and remainers (employees that is – we’re not going THERE again…) what strategies can be employed to stem the flow of resignation and get a full and healthy workforce back in the saddle. We have put together an outstanding Retention and Wellbeing conference to run virtually on June 22nd. There are a range of practical and policy responses to this current inertia, particularly from a generational perspective. What will motivate a millennial over Gen X and Y and what are the considerations for minority ethnic employees too?
Steven Bevan, Head of HR research and development at the Institute of Employment Studies is opening the day and is quoted in a recent study, Work After Lockdown: No Going Back; he believes that “employees’ productivity and well-being is better when it matches closely to their work preferences. Given that this will be a new period of change and uncertainty, management must keep a close eye on their teams and actively monitor and manage their well-being.”
A Scandinavian perspective: effective policies to retain and nurture your people
As ever, we have much to learn from progressive Scandinavian working practices. Sari Ek-Petroff will be sharing the secrets of a happy productive workplace, and tell us how the Finns are building collaborative and inclusive workplaces, now the pandemic is all but over.
Collecting, understanding and interpreting data to retain employees
Data remains key – from understanding motivation to tackling the pay gap, employers of choice ensure they are collecting and interpreting data as part of their retention strategy. Upskilling too is vital; bridging the gaps between objectives and skills is a huge challenge and we are looking forward to hearing some of the innovative and workable solutions that out experts have tried and tested.
The modern employee mindset - aligning with personal values
The racial tensions that built up during lockdown, along with the inequality of how much work women ended up doing, should be a warning to employers to refresh and update any EDI policies that aren’t working. More than ever, employees are looking for places to work that align with their personal values, so HR would do well to be part of a reengineering conversation to maximise inclusivity and wellbeing for all employees, existing and future alike.
Dr Mike Talbot of UK Mediation will also share some insights into workplace conflict management. He recognises that toxic workplaces are likely to fail to attract workers, and a series of workshops during the day will look at a myriad of ways in which employers of choice are building successful remote teams, reducing the tensions around returning to work and how to rejuvenate jaded teams.
Can HR pivot to meet new expectations?
It will be interesting to see how much HR can now pivot to meet the new expectations of their workforces – radical solutions to an extreme situation or practical and empathetic response to a wellbeing crisis – we will keep you posted.
Article by Elizabeth Smith, Director of Research
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Employee Retention and Wellbeing Summit: reengineering your workplace culture post-Covid
Drawing on our 25 years' experience of employee relations events, this critical day will offer support and guidance when reengineering your workplace culture. With extensive and practical information from leading experts.
Hear from: Institute of Employment Studies (IES), Virgin Money UK Plc, Christian Aid, PwC LLP, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Millennial Minds Pte Ltd, NHS Trust, Blood Cancer UK, St. Austell Brewery, HireRight Ltd, Holland & Barrett, Rohlig UK Ltd, UK Mediation, Shneider Electric and ACAS
Benefit from the direct Q&A sessions, mini-workshops and roundtable discussions, and come armed with your own concerns to put to the experts.
Date: 22nd June '22
Time: 0915-1700 BST
Cost: £295 + VAT per attendee