- Not being a raging narcissist. Realize that you're a business owner/manager, not a god. Employment is a relationship and all relationships worth engaging in rely on trust and mutual respect. Berating, belittling, micromanaging or flying off the handle like a child throwing tantrum aren't impressive power displays, they make for an uncomfortable and toxic work environment. These will serve as drivers for your employees to look that much harder for other opportunities.
- Eliminate necessary steps in the hiring process such as using personality tests. They don't weed out bad employees and may turn away a potential good employee. They're silly, they're useless, so please stop using them.
- When hiring, advertise the pay rate/range. This allows for potential candidates to see if the job will be able to support a viable lifestyle for their area. And ask yourself this: Would you buy from a vendor who isn't upfront with their pricing? And if you are not getting any quality candidates, then you may have to adjust the rate for which that job pays.
- Actually pay at the rate advertised. No last second switching to a lower rate because “Reasons. /shrug”. This seems to be a growing trend among some businesses. It's dishonest and shows that you have no respect for the employee, yourself or the world of business in general. And again ask yourself: Would you continue to deal with a vendor who changes prices midway through a transaction?
-
Paying your current employees correctly. You want to reduce overhead by reducing training costs and the headache of hiring after a resentful underpaid employee leaves? Pay people correctly the first time and if a mistake is made quickly fix it.
-
Rewarding over time and extra work with money instead of pizza parties or other patronizing gestures of “gratitude” that often represent a small fraction of the profit gained.
- Scheduling enough people for shifts to allow for a relaxed and focused work environment instead of a bare bones staff that have to burn themselves out to keep up.
- Scheduling enough people so that in case there is a call off it's a minor inconvenience and not a huge headache that puts extra strain on your remaining employees. Bonus, Your customers will appreciate this too(More profits for you!)
- And in case there is a call off, don't act inappropriately at the person calling off. Here's the thing, you've hired human beings and they have lives outside of your work environment. They can get ill or they may have to take care of family who can get ill. They have doctors appointments, dental appointments, and sometimes their car breaks down. Acting as if a call off is a personal affront towards you and your business falls under point # 1: Don't be a raging narcissist.
- Realizing that weather is bigger than your business. Forcing your employees to come in when the roads aren't safe, especially when you get to stay home, is a morale killer and your employees will not care for your business if you make it clear that you do not care for their safety.
It's up to you as to what kind of business environment you want to have. Do you want it to be cold and uncaring where people are constantly looking for the exit or do you want it to be a place where people, employees and customers alike, want to be?