I once heard someone say that employees have an expiration date. I couldn’t believe it. The thinking itself is stupid. Not to sound too harsh, but great employees should help a company grow. Employers who think employees have an expiration date, especially when it comes to productivity and creativity (as that someone was referring to). obviously don’t realize this statement is a poor reflection on the employer – not the employee!

If you feel your employees are going stale then ask them why. “What do YOU think we are doing here that needs to change as soon as possible?” This question is great to ask both new and old employees. As an employer, you can obtain amazing insight as to the challenges you are creating or what opportunities the company is missing out on.  Low productivity and a stale culture in the workplace isn’t always the employees’ fault.

1 on 1 meetings are also great.  These meetings, although time consuming, let employees know that you truly do value their opinions and ideas.  A lot of good can come from hosting regular 1 on 1 meetings. Plus, these meetings add a sense of accountability within the office. If you feel people in the office or on the job have become complacent, hosting 1 on 1 meetings will keep everyone on their toes.

Being a business owner isn’t easy. Capturing business, managing accounts and all that goes along with these two items is stressful. Yes, you hire employees as support staff- but this doesn’t mean they don’t get your support in return. Becoming engaged with your employees will help prevent them from checking out or  “expiring”.

Britanie Olvera