This year has taken a toll – personally and professionally – on most people around the world, including your fleet employees. The pandemic might have them rethinking their position at your fleet, especially if you experienced staff reductions and budget cuts this year. To retain your staff, show them you appreciate their efforts during this unprecedented year through the following suggestions.
Providing food for your staff can be a nice surprise and is a way to give your entire team a treat. While you might not be able to offer buffet-style lunches right now, consider bringing in a food truck. Employees will each receive an individual portion to remove the safety risks surrounding shared food trays.
Signs of appreciation do not have to be elaborate. They can be as simple as a hand-written note. Employees may appreciate the time a manager spent to write a note acknowledging his or her efforts.
Create a program to allow your employees to show appreciation for each other. This can be presented publicly or personally between the individuals. Letting staff members recognize each other can help improve your workplace culture and morale.
Designate a spot at your operation to publicly acknowledge employee efforts. This can be a formal display with plaques or employee photos, or it can be informal with employees and managers placing notes on the board to call out staff members.
Another way to acknowledge your employees is through posts on your internal company website or employee newsletter. Especially for operations that have employees working in various locations, this allows everyone to see who is being honored and ensures all staff members are included.
It’s been a tough year, so there are likely things your employees need to help relieve some stress. Consider offering a safe babysitting service to employees, or gift cards to the grocery store, local restaurants, or local food delivery services. Even providing employees with hard-to-find products like hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes or toilet paper can be welcomed surprises.
Employees may be questioning their future at your operation – especially if there were layoffs or furloughs. Invest in training opportunities for your employees to show them you value their talents and efforts and want them to be part of your staff long-term. This helps the individuals improve their skills and benefits the operation by improving employees’ knowledge.
If you are not sure what types of appreciation your staff would enjoy, just ask them. Request feedback from your team and determine what is feasible.