A loss of a manufacturing employee today, by retirement or resignation, carries a high price tag as dollars invested in their skills, knowledge, and experience walk out the door. What can an employer do to retain employees and limit the loss of vital skills and institutional knowledge?
Communication is absolutely crucial – it’s important to get to know your workforce and stay in touch with your employees on a regular basis.
Here are 10 questions to ask employees to gauge the feelings of your workforce and keep them engaged and satisfied:
1) Would you recommend us to others as a good place to work?
A referral from a current employee is one of the best recruiting tools available. If your employees don’t recommend your company to others, leadership needs to address why that might be the case. Dig deeper to find out what is stopping them from making recommendations.
2) If you could change one thing in your current workplace, what would that be?
Your employees’ answers signal areas of needed improvement in your company, especially if the same item is mentioned repeatedly across responses from different team members.
3) What "makes your day” at work?
Answers to this question will give insights into how your employees like to be valued and appreciated. Most of the time, this has little to do with money. A simple "hello” from a manager or a change to the cafeteria offerings can suffice.
4) What is your biggest challenge on a typical workday?
By identifying these challenges and correcting or minimizing them where possible, employees will be more satisfied with and more productive within your company’s work environment.
5) Do you have the training, tools, and knowledge to perform your job?
A well-trained, knowledgeable workforce is critical in today’s manufacturing environment. Increases in product quality and decreases in accidents are just a few benefits from such a prepared workforce.
6) What would make you start looking for employment elsewhere?
Knowing what triggers an employee to start seeking other employment opportunities can help address current organizational issues and minimize the chance that an employee would leave voluntarily.
7) Do you have any talents or experience that you could be using but aren’t in your current day to day responsibilities?
Finding "hidden” talents within your workforce can help fill needs in various areas of the business, bring in new ideas and insights, and increase the satisfaction of the employee who is utilizing their talents and experience.
8) Are you satisfied with your current job?
Gauging an employee’s job satisfaction can help identify areas of the business that need improvement. Based on the tone and content of this answer, employers may also be able to identify employees who are already "checked out” and could be considering employment elsewhere.
9) How could we improve our current reward and recognition program?
Everyone likes to be recognized and rewarded for a job well done. Understanding what makes workers feel valued and special can do wonders in increasing engagement, satisfaction, and overall morale.
10) Do you see yourself here in the next three, five, or 10 years?
Asking this question with any or all three of these numbers gives employers an idea of workforce stability and employee aspirations. If the majority see themselves here in 10 years, then they feel comfortable with the company, their performance, and their longevity.
An answer of three years can raise a red flag about employee perception of management and the company as a whole. This perception should be addressed quickly to avoid a cycle of hiring and rehiring.
How to Get Employee Feedback
While some of these questions can be asked in casual conversation, some are better asked anonymously. Sending an online or hardcopy questionnaire to the team or creating a suggestion box can facilitate open and honest feedback.
Retaining manufacturing employees is more important today than in the past. Understanding what motivates, engages, and rewards your production line workforce is essential in keeping retention levels high and company departures low.