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Guard Your Hive
By Roberta Chinsky Matuson
Your company has important resources that are worth protecting.
They're called
experienced workers. If this sector of your workforce flies out the door
tomorrow, their wisdom will follow. Their staff will also follow, because they
have more of a connection to these people than they have to the organization.
Think about it. What will become of your organization if these people disappear?
It will take years before you can replenish this valuable resource. So why are
so many companies helping these workers find the door?
Critical resources
I'd like to relate a story about honeybees and how most of us had been unaware
of the integral role they play in our ecological system. Only after they started
disappearing did we realize how dependent we are on this tiny sector of nature
to fuel our food systems.
An organic farmer in Wellesley, Mass. recently reported an attempted hijacking
of his honeybee hives. Fortunately the attempt was unsuccessful or the farmer
would have lost his ability to cross-pollinate his crop of organic vegetables.
His entire business could have been lost overnight because he would have been
unable to replace the honeybees in time for his crop to flourish.
Suppose someone swarmed in and tried to steal your one of your most precious
resources. Would your colony collapse? Could your organization survive? Here are
some ways to prevent others from stealing the experienced talent you have worked
so hard to cultivate:
Climate control
We hear managers say they had no idea exiting employees were unhappy. Perhaps
this is so because they never asked. Take your organization's temperature so you
can make adjustments before you have a mass exodus. There are a number of ways
to do this including climate surveys or employee focus groups. Check in
semi-annually or annually to track your progress as you work toward building an
environment that is comfortable for all.
Reassure your talent
I am constantly hearing workers over the age of 40 express concerns they will be
reorganized out of the company the next time a wave of reductions hit. It is
difficult to focus on performance when you are worried about getting whacked the
next time the big guys come to town. Before you finalize your next lay-off list,
make sure you are not sending the message that experience is no longer valued in
your organization.
Don't give them a reason to leave
Imagine a company where people solicit the advice of those with more experience.
This would be a place where older workers would have flexibility in scheduling
their hours so they could enjoy the fruits of their labor. Would you ever want
to leave if this were your workplace?
It is easier than you think to create an environment where older workers feel
welcome. Begin by asking your experienced people how you might improve the
workplace so they feel more engaged. You may not be able to change everything
overnight, but at least you will send the message that you value their
contribution and are willing to make changes to retain them.
Make your workplace more accessible
Mention the word accommodation and visions of large dollar signs pop up in the
heads of leaders. There are many things you can do to make your workplace more
accessible for older workers that will not break the bank. For example, offer
preferred parking to those employees who find it difficult to walk from the end
of the parking lot to the employee entrance. If a job requires standing for long
periods of time, supply anti-fatigue mats or chairs. Employers with large
campuses could invest in Segway Scooters to allow older workers to move about
the campus more freely.
Headhunters are becoming more aggressive as the labor pool tightens. Protect
your hive and you will be well positioned to thwart off their attempts to steal
your honey and your precious bees.
Roberta Chinsky Matuson is the President of Human Resource Solutions (www.yourhrexperts.com)
and has been helping companies align their people assets with their business
goals. She is considered an expert in generational workforce issues. Roberta
publishes a monthly newsletter "HR Matters"
http://www.yourhrexperts.com/hrjoin.cgi which is jammed with resources,
articles and tips to help companies navigate through sticky and complicated HR
workforce issues. Click here to read her new blog on Generation Integration
http://generationintegration.typepad.com/matuson/. She can be reached at
413-582-1840 or
Roberta@yourhrexperts.com.
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