So we had 4th or 5th person quit for something new in last few months. Our engineering team of 10-11 people is down to 6. I am a Team Lead so my direct manager, director of operations and I had an impromptu meeting as an engineer/PM with almost 10yrs with the company gave their 2 weeks notice this morning.
We discussed what we could do to retain people and I gave my 2 cents that hybrid work and a progressive salary growth (performance based and discussed ahead of time with respective personnel) will be a big plus. I know it would be (and was, the progressive salary growth part) for me. Come meeting with company owner (it's a small business) later in the day, the owner goes through list of suggestions that we had come up with. “I see hybrid work and progressive salary growth being tossed around” and that's all that was discussed about hybrid work. When higher salaries and salary growth was brought up again he goes, “but salary is not be-all, end-all for people”. How can you be so tone deaf?
Like buddy, an employee of yours is telling you what will keep him here. I make pretty good salary but do you think if a similar paying hybrid or remote job comes up I wouldn't prefer that over my current job? Just needed to vent.
Edit: forgot to mention, the owner joined the meeting via zoom from his summer house where he is with his family for about a month or two every year. He's probably still working just as much but doesn't see the hypocrisy.