Madonna Riley covers strategies that will help you retain the best people to ensure the long term success of your company, by discussing trends that drive the competition, reasons why employees leave, the value of an effective on-boarding process and various retention strategies and best practices.

1. Retaining Top Performers

2. Madonna Riley
Sr. Corporate HR Specialist
• PHR Certified
• Extensive experience in management and
administration of human resources functions,
including recruitment, hiring and retention
• Part of the pre-opening team of Houston’s biggest and
most prestigious hotel, the Hilton Americas, organizing
a three-day job fair that resulted in nearly 500 hires
and overseeing the successful mass hiring and
orientation of nearly 900 team members
• Received the 2006 Asian Pacific-Islander American
Outstanding Employee award in recognition for serving
her company and community

3. Agenda
• Workplace Trends
• Why Employees Leave
• Retention Strategies
• On-Boarding
• Performance Management
• Employee Relations
• Training and Development
• Compensation and Rewards

4. Workplace Trends
• Diversity
• Generational Differences
• Shrinking Labor Force
• Technology
• Demographic Trends
• Change in Priorities

5. Why Employees Leave
• Poor working conditions
• Lack of appreciation
• Lack of support
• Lack of opportunity for advancement
• Inadequate compensation

6. Retention Strategies
• Environmental
• Relationship
• Support
• Growth
• Rewards

7. Retention Strategies: On-Boarding
• Continues past traditional orientation
programs
• Leadership assessment, development and
coaching
• Business process

8. Retention Strategies: On-Boarding
• Promotes early employee engagement
• Can learn best practices from other
organizations
• Gain fresh view of business landscape

9. Retention Strategies: On-Boarding
• Detailed and relevant company
information
– Marketing materials
– Employee handbook
– Benefits information
• Customize employee package
– Welcome letter
– Job description

10. Retention Strategies: On-Boarding
• Be prepared
– Inform staff
– Welcome sign
– Set-up work area
– Tools and supplies
– Paperwork
– Schedule training
• Email agenda

11. Retention Strategies: On-Boarding
• Consistent application to all new employees
• Take advantage of enthusiasm
• Positive experience
• First day on the job
• Spread out over a number of days
• Three-step process

12. Retention Strategies: On-Boarding
• Welcome and introductions
• Site tour
• Mentor / “Buddy” system
• How things are done
• Administrative issues
• Do not cram information

13. Retention Strategies: On-Boarding
• Department structure
• Functional responsibilities and accountabilities
• Team / Department expectations
• Role in team’s and company’s success
• Career paths and opportunities

14. Retention Strategies: On-Boarding
• Mission, Vision and Values
• Organizational goals and strategies
• Successes
• Competitors
• Company culture
• Policies and procedures
• Terminology

15. Retention Strategies: On-Boarding
• Longest stage
• Provide ongoing care and sense of security
• Monitor performance against role
expectations
• Demonstrate commitment
• Extend stage until employee’s first year
anniversary

16. Retention Strategies: Performance
Management
• Monitors results
• Evaluates performance
• Determines achievement of goals
• Must be well-designed
• Can be a problem if not done right

17. Retention Strategies: Performance
Management
• Identifies strengths and weaknesses
• Aligns goals
• New ideas and improved methods
• Accurate employment- and compensation-
related decisions
• Minimize risks of discrimination, equal pay,
and wrongful discharge claims

18. Retention Strategies: Performance
Management
• Essential functions and qualifications
• Observable and measurable goals
• Emphasize the positives
• Review goals and expectations; ensure
understanding
• On-going

19. Retention Strategies: Performance
Management
• False sense of comfort
• Perceived as adversarial
• Promote biased opinions
• Poor morale
• Legal complications

20. Retention Strategies: Employee
Relations
• Develop the boss
– Management By Wandering Around (MBWA)
– Working side by side
• Listen / Communicate
– 50/50 meetings
– Exit interviews

21. Retention Strategies: Employee
Relations
• Respectful work environment
• Work / Life Balance
– Non-work priorities
– Work scheduling options
• Corporate responsibility
– Meaningful company mission
– Giving back to community

22. Retention Strategies: Training
and Development
• Needs assessment
• Management support
• Personalize
• Effectively budget training
• Monitor completion

23. Retention Strategies: Training and
Development
• Succession planning
• Mentoring
• Increase job satisfaction and morale
• Competitive edge

24. Retention Strategies: Compensation
and Reward
• Beyond straight salary
• Align rewards with performance
• Measure
• Track
• Comply with government regulations

25. Retention Strategies: Compensation
and Reward
• Incentive plans
• Benefits package
• Employee recognition
• Use creative rewards and recognition

26. Retention Strategies: Why Your
Organization Needs It
• Attract best available talent
• Retain top performers
• Reduce turnover
• Create competitive advantage
• Become employer of choice in
market space

27. Question and Answer

28. Thank You
G&A Partners is a Houston-based HR and administrative
services company that manages human resources, benefits,
payroll, accounting and risk management for growing
businesses. G&A maintains offices in Houston, Dallas, San
Antonio, Austin, College Station, Corpus Christi, Chicago,
Arizona and Utah. For more information about the company,
visit www.gnapartners.com or call 713.784.1181