Recruiting and Turnover :
Talent acquisition is the number one concern in today’s time, due to a shortage of people in the Magic Valley. I keep hearing from other HR professionals that they are struggling to find good talent and are experiencing a shortage of applicants to fill positions. In the meantime, as I drive through Twin Falls, I see too many license plates from California, Oregon, and Washington. Where is everyone? Where are these out-of-town people driving around in Twin Falls? Answer… I don’t know! What I can confirm is that the last time we spoke to a county representative of Twin Falls, she said we were experiencing a shortage of housing due to people moving in from out of town, so I know there are potential candidates out there.
Recruiting today is going to require you to think outside the box. What does ‘outside the box’ mean? This means that normal recruiting efforts are not enough these days, so find other solutions. For example, gather information from the Department of Labor’s labor economist regarding average wages for positions you have open, or ask if they know the rate of population growth today compared to last year. Be well-informed and competitive in the job market. I think the Department of Labor has the capability to let you know how many people are here from California, Oregon, and Washington. Maybe try a monetary incentive, such as a sign-on bonus, for California or out-of-town candidates. Regarding recruiting efforts, we know there are people moving in from out of town, so find a way to draw them out.
However, let’s say we found new solutions for recruiting, but you are losing 4 employees to the one new employee you hired. (There’s a problem, right?) This brings me to the next topic: “turnover.” It’s not good to have a revolving door in the jobsite. If you do have this issue, review your pre-employment vetting process, wages vs. job duties, keep track of which department is losing more employees vs. other departments (review this one carefully; there could be more reasons than one if one department is exposed to high turnover vs. the others), environmental scanning with SWOT analysis would be another option to explore. Turnover is costly, so work hard to find a way to retain good employees. The best recruiting tool HR professionals have is the company’s employees. Word-of-mouth is usually the best recruiting tool. We live in a small community where people talk to each other about their employment, benefits, pay, etc. I can personally attest to the fact that throwing money at a problem isn’t always the solution. If you are the company experiencing these problems firsthand and really want to know what is going on, invest your time and budget, and hire an outside consultant or hire an employee you trust (without anyone else knowing, other than HR, what he/she is being hired for), and let that employee give you the real scoop on what is going on with your business. In today’s time, try new things. HR’s professionals don’t blame yourself for the turnover. Work hard to find the solution!
Wellness and work-life balance:
I know that once we sit down to check emails, one thing leads to another; pretty soon, you’ve lost track of time and you’ve been typing away for 10 hours without a break. (Where did the time go?) This can become a habit, and after a while, it can wear on your health and affect our relationships with our spouse and kids. We need to prioritize our health and well-being, so we have energy left in us to adequately share with our loved ones. Focusing too much on work without learning to balance your time can compromise your mental health and well-being. In my experience, when I spend too much time on my laptop without taking a break or keeping track of time, I get lazy, and the worst part is… I realize I am hungry, and I eat whatever is easiest and quickest, usually fast food for fast gratification! These habits in the long run can affect your health, cause weight gain, depression, anxiety, the list goes on. The next time you sit down to check your emails, remember to be cognizant of time. Set a timer for an hour to remind you to do 20 jumping jacks or an exercise of your choice. In my world, my family, job, and exercise are the three things I prioritize, and I have learned to balance them. What are your priorities?