Finding and Keeping Good Employees Human Resources 101 Finding and Keeping Good Employees

Finding the Right People You need to plan your recruiting and selection process in detail Job advertisements noticed by the right people with the right qualifications Interview and screen respondents carefully Provide appropriate motivations and rewards for employees

Forms of Recruitment External Recruitment Internal Recruitment Looking outside the organization Only option for start-up ventures Internal Recruitment Offering position to someone who already works for the company in a different capacity Depending on the situation of the company, either can be the right choice

Choosing the Best Person Review resumes and cover letters to narrow down the list of candidates Some companies also use skill testing Check references and previous employers Conduct interviews with the “short list”, mixing knowledge/skills questions with personality questions Make your decision and offer the job

Training Your Employee Properly training your employee is the most important thing you can do, as it prevents future errors that can seriously affect your business Normally, a 3 month probation (orientation) period to get to know the job, work environment, coworkers, and equipment etc. Once period is over, the employee is protected by current labour laws

Building Employee Loyalty An employee who excels will likely receive competing job offers How do you ensure that good employees don’t leave? Treat employees with respect Be flexible Value their ideas Encourage employees to constantly upgrade skills Ask for their opinions Be honest about future opportunities Provide opportunities for ongoing staff development Ask for input and give feedback Clearly communicate policies and expectations Offer pay incentives for improved performance

Kinds of Pay Incentives Employers who keep employees involved, committed and satisfied can avoid many issues Gain Sharing – workers share a percentage of revenues that result from increased productivity Profit Sharing – If the venture makes a profit, a portion of it is shared with employees Group Incentives – Targets are set and team awards are given when targets are met Individual Incentives – Individual workers are given awards when targets are met Pay for Knowledge – Employees are paid more as they acquire new skills / certifications

How Much Does an Employee Cost? Direct Costs – Salary, vacation, sick time, insurance premiums, EI/CPP/Workmans comp, Admin overhead Recruiting – Placing ad, reviewing resumes/ interviews, evaluation tests, reference checks Orientation – Furniture, tools of trade, orientation and training, miscellaneous expenses, lower initial productivity