If you look after your employees, they will take care of you

Retaining employees boils down to one sentence, according to a Saskatoon-based human resources manager with a wide range of experience in retail and accommodation sectors.
"If you look after your employees, they will take care of you."
That was the message from Suzanne Orieux-Koroluk of Marriott Global Reservations to about 100 business people and students at a labour market attraction/retention session in Moose Jaw Thursday.
Traditional methods of hiring - business reputation, location, benefits - no longer work in a world of skilled labour shortages and varying expectations, she said.
Be open to change and be flexible, she counselled.
Her own employer has some unique employee-oriented features such as work time selection.
Employees get a list of shifts in the seven-day-a-week operation every four weeks and, by seniority, select their own days of work, shifts, coffee breaks and other breaks.
"I thought it would never work but we have no problem filling shifts."
Another technique used by Marriott is a twist on the conventional exit interview. "If you wait until they leave to ask questions, it's too late."
Rather, a "stay" interview, part of the regular process, is conducted, which asks employees how they feel about the job and managers.
She described the process as a strong tool in retaining employees by dealing with issues like repetition and training needs that otherwise never surface.
Orieux-Koroluk said hires should be right, and managers should not settle for the temptation "to use the beating pulse test to hire."
The majority of measures employers can take to retain employees are non-monetary and fit well with the bottom line goal of business, she said.
Great Western Brewing Company chief financial officer Terry Litwin of Saskatoon said his firm is in the process of designing a new human resources program.
"Our last draft is certainly better than our first draft," he said.
Hiring right the first time is key, he said.
"Rehiring and retraining an employee can cost between 70 per cent and 200 per cent of annual wages. Multiply your employee turnovers by that and you'll see how much it's costing you."
Great Western Brewing is keen on probationary periods to allow an early exit of employees not fitting the job, he said.
"Poor hires cause morale problems among other employees. If they are not resolved quickly, they cost you in customer satisfaction and in severance."
Michael Fougere, president of the Saskatchewan Construction Association, said shortages of skilled labour limit the province's growth.
"We say you can't do anything until we build it."
A shortage of skilled construction workers plague the industry across Canada, and all industries face shortages, he said.
The previous government's increase in training seats last year was important, he said.
The Moose Jaw region needs 3,000 to 4,000 construction workers for three years to build new projects.
Construction labour shortages will be tightest between 2008 to 2012.

Different ages, different workplace needs
Four age groupings of employees need workplace flexibility but for different reasons, says Marriott manager Suzanne Orieux-Koroluk.
Mature employees, born before 1945, feel they have earned the right to flexibility.
Baby boomers, born between 1956 and 1964, feel they deserve it.
Generation Xers, 1965 to 1976, want it because they want a task and want to be left alone to complete it.
Generation Yers, 1977 to 1988, just expects a flexible workplace.
- Walter

Targeting groups for labour
The Saskatchewan Construction Association has several programs to attract new workers, including women and students, but one of the most successful is targeted at First Nations, said president Michael Fougere.
Most of those referred to the programs are people wanting to work, but unaware of opportunities, he said.
A job coach links them with employers and works with them to overcome cultural differences or life skills issues such as no driver's licence.
Nearly 6,000 of 8,000 people interviewed have been hired with about 1,500 advancing to a variety of trades certification.
- Walter