As the manufacturing industry finds it increasingly difficult to meet its recruitment objectives, retaining employees is now more important than ever. A cornerstone of any strong retention strategy is effective communication, which can build the foundation of a more inclusive culture and can deepen employee loyalty. As they evolve their retention strategies, organizations should assess their current communication practices. 

It’s a longstanding joke that every generation is suspicious of the ones that follow it—and rolls its eyes at the ones that preceded it. And of course there are stereotypes galore: Boomers are terrible with technology, Generation X hates everything, and Millennials are entitled.

During the hiring frenzy over the past few years, many companies came to recognize the importance of effective onboarding to employee engagement and retention. During the so-called war for talent, it was critical to make new hires feel special and to assimilate them quickly into the company or risk having them accept other offers. Although fewer job openings today might shift leverage back to the employer, effective onboarding is still extremely important—particularly when internal talent moves are involved. 

As many organizations brace for economic hardship in 2023, companies looking to hire are more likely to want new employees to come to the office. But the opportunities for remote work are drying up. Employees who join an organization expecting to work remotely will see a change in remote work policy as a threat to their careers. Even if a company continues to let some people work remotely, those who do so will look around the organization and wonder if they can advance there. If they don’t see opportunities to move up while still working remotely, they might not stay. 

Most managers have had an employee question an employment agreement or say they didn’t mean to agree to a term of their employment. Careful documentation is a critical issue for all employers, but getting proof in writing applies to more than just employment agreements! At its root, a signature shows an individual's intent to bind themself to a contract or make a written representation.