Page 128 - Retaining Top Employees

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116 Retaining Top Employees

launch announcement is not very effective. Communicate the
basics of your recognition program five to seven times in the
first three months. Promote the launch and then reinforce the
message using newsletters, employee notice boards, your cor-
porate intranet, brown-bag lunches and any other means.

Award time. Make the most of award presentations. Get every-
one to attend, whether they’ve won or not. Build up the event a
little, including some ritual and fun. If possible, get a member of
senior management to present the awards and (bearing in mind
that you’re dealing with high performing employees) provide
the winners with as much exposure as possible.
Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 6

❏ Recognition programs can be a major help in retaining top
employees—if designed to be retention-oriented.
❏ Ensure that your program rewards retention-related behav-
iors as well as outputs.
❏ Your recognition program must be specific, attainable, fair
and appropriate.
❏ Effective communication is essential to the success of your
recognition program.