Keep Your Best People This August

Keeping your experienced staff is more important than ever. High staff turnover costs time, money, and can impact your team's morale. This month, let's focus on simple, effective ways to make sure your best people stay with you.

Understand Why People Leave

Many people don't leave a job; they leave a manager or a company culture. Poor communication, lack of recognition, or limited career progression are common reasons. In our region, with many similar businesses in Felixstowe, Ipswich, and Suffolk, a good employee has options elsewhere if they feel undervalued.

Check in With Your Team

Regular one-to-one meetings are crucial. These shouldn't just be about tasks or performance. Ask your employees how they are feeling, what challenges they face, and what they enjoy about their role. This builds trust and shows you care. A good time to do this is informally over a cup of tea or before a shift starts.

Recognise Good Work

Acknowledgement goes a long way. A simple "thank you" can boost morale significantly. Consider a formal recognition scheme, or just make sure you highlight successes in team meetings. It shows you notice and value their contribution.

Support Career Development

Even in roles like driving or warehousing, people want to feel they're progressing. Can you offer training for a new license, a course in logistics software, or the chance to shadow another department? For example, some transport roles can lead to planning positions, and a good freight forwarder might want to specialise in a certain trade lane. Think about internal opportunities first.

What to do this month

• Schedule short, informal check-ins with at least two key team members to discuss their job satisfaction.
• Identify one employee who has done great work recently and publicly acknowledge their contribution.
• Review your internal training options. Are there any free courses or in-house shadowing opportunities you could offer?
• Talk to your LME Recruitment contact about current salary benchmarks for similar roles to ensure your pay is competitive.