Are Your New Hires Quitting? Here's Why.
Landing new talent is only the beginning on a long, winding path of the working relationship between employee and company. Being able to keep your employees on board and reduce turnover rates is a whole other ballgame. Employees leaving the workplace for greener pastures is a normalcy that most companies expect, but what does it mean when it’s your least-tenured workers who are jumping ship? It’s definitely a red flag if you notice a pattern in your new hires quitting, and here are some factors to take into account when trying to understand why this could be happening.
Expectations vs. Reality
During the interviewing process, a lot goes into defining the responsibilities and functions of the role in questions. Upon accepting the role, the employee is claiming ownership of these duties and is usually confident that they will excel in the position even if there’s a learning curve. The point of conflict occurs when responsibilities are introduced that the employee wasn’t aware they would be partaking in. At times, these unexpected introductions into the worker’s workload can be considered misleading, often leaving them blindsided and even frustrated. The scope of work could also be outside of their capabilities, which could lead to more stress and less confidence in being able to conquer their responsibilities. It’s best to be as clear as possible about the workload and responsibilities at hand as to not have your new hires feeling bamboozled or overwhelmed. Make sure they know up-front what they are getting into so that they can decide what they can or cannot handle before accepting a role.
You Throw Them to the Wolves
If you’ve been the main point of contact for the employee throughout the application and interview process, there’s an unspoken expectation that you’ll be an ongoing support system to them as they go through the early stages of their new hire experience. Whether you were an HR manager, department head or played another crucial role as being their point of contact in the hiring process, you’ve established a point of leadership and support that they will often look to in the early stages of their tenure. Don’t forget to offer a helping hand or an open door in order to help them to adjust to their new environment and get acclimated with their colleagues. Invite them out for coffee breaks, introduce them to other employees or leaders, or simply just stop by their desk to say hi.
The Company Culture Isn’t A Good Fit
As best as we try, sometimes it’s hard to gauge whether or not an employee will be a good culture fit until they actually begin working and interacting with their colleagues. Maybe they seemed outspoken in their interviews, but cower at the thought of coffee talk or after-work happy hours. They may be the one who likes to play music out loud in the office space while others glare at them for not respecting welcomed silence. Lack of culture fit can make everyone on all sides uncomfortable or even hostile, and can result in new hires seeking a company where their personality will be more appreciated.
You Just Weren’t Good Enough
Breathing a sigh of relief after a new hire has accepted a role is often premature. This is because there are several other outside influences that can cause them to abandon the role. Many new hires—especially those who have been interviewing for quite awhile—are keeping their options open even after completing their first day, week, or even month into their new role. If an offer from another company that offers a better salary, work-life balance and overall better fit comes along, don’t expect them to remain loyal to you. In cases like this, it’s best to remember that it’s not you, it’s them.