Dr. Patricia Kapper

Discussion Comment

linda, Age is certainly a factor in employee retention but so much more enters into an employee's decision to leave an organization. I continue to be a strong believer in creating an organization that believes in the value of its employees. Holding that belief and communicating it goes a long way to reduce turnover. Many other factors, of course, need to be in place such as fair and competitive compensation. Dr. Patricia Kapper

Dr. Patricia Kapper

Discussion Comment

Employee retention

linda, Sometimes loyalty to the students and/or the organization plays into the equation as well. Employee retention is a topic that deserves discussion at all levels of the organization but at the very least at the highest levels. Some turnover is healthy within the organization but excessive turnover begins to negatively impact students, faculty and staff. Dr. Patricia Kapper

Dr. Patricia Kapper

Discussion Comment

Retaining Your Top Employees

susan, That is so unfortunate. Employee morale is negatively affected and students begin to sense that something is wrong. Students connect to the school through individual employees. If they leave, students lose their connection and can easily decide to drop out. I wish you the best. Dr. Patricia Kapper

Dr. Patricia Kapper

Discussion Comment

The Effective Job Interview

Michael, Those are some good questions. I like the fact that they are open-ended and cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." Preparation is key to conducting an effective interview. You did a great job of establishing your process. One piece that I don't see mentioned is the importance of the job description. Making sure that it truly reflects the job for which you are recruiting and then asking questions to determine the candidate's fit for that position is the hiring manager's responsibility. Verification of an opinion regarding a candidate through involvement of others managers is an effective… >>>

Dr. Patricia Kapper

Discussion Comment

Recruiting the Best Person for the Job

Sharon, Someone earlier had mentioned Craig's list as an employee recruitment resource. I was surprised by this as, to my knowledge, the companies with which I have been associated had not used this resource. It does, however, make some sense. Obviously, you are generating lots of interest. A well-written job description is critical in order to be able to efficiently screen that many resumes. Dr. Patricia Kapper

Dr. Patricia Kapper

Discussion Comment

Recruiting the Best Person for the Job

DENISE, Wow! You are fortunate. Although you don't indicate a timeframe, posting a single position is low and rare. You are likely doing something right with such low turnover. Given that, you do seem to have a logical, effective process in place when it is necessary to recruit. The actual interview process needs to be as logical and planned. Preparation at every stage takes you one step closer to hiring the right/best person. Dr. Patricia Kapper

Dr. Patricia Kapper

Discussion Comment

Employee Dismissal: Unpleasant, But Sometimes Necessary

Melanie, Your response tells me that you have done this before. The process that you describe is the kind of process that keeps you out of trouble and allows an employee to leave with their dignity and respect intact. I have heard of employees who have thanked their manager after their dismissal because it was handled professionally. Dr. Patricia Kapper

Dr. Patricia Kapper

Discussion Comment

The Effective Job Interview

Debra, I am sure it took time to develop those questions, but having done so, allows you to be more effective in the interviewing process. If you were questioned on why you selected a particular candidate, your notes will serve as good documentation. A process like yours is a model that many have found to be most effective in hiring right. Dr. Patricia Kapper

Dr. Patricia Kapper

Discussion Comment

Retaining Your Top Employees

Stephen, High employee turnover impacts student retention as well. Students connect with employees of the college, most often with their Admissions reps. Frequently when those connections leave, that severs the primary connection that the student has with the college. If things get rough, it is then easy for the student to walk away. Your comments regarding productivity and training are really key, too. All of these factors can significantly impact your bottom line. Dr. Patricia Kapper

Dr. Patricia Kapper

Discussion Comment

Do Employee Retention Strategies Work?

Melanie, That sounds like a great place to work! So often, an employee's decision to continue employment with a particular employer is based on how they have been treated. Valuing our employees leads to higher employee satisfaction rates. Doing so doesn't have to cost the company anything--just treating people with dignity and respect has a zero cost impact. Employee retention strategies do work but they must be sincere. Dr. Patricia Kapper