What Firms Need to Do to Keep Staff

Source: Accounting Today

You may remember arriving at your first day on the job and reporting to a supervisor who forgot you were coming.

That won’t work today.

Here’s what firms are doing to improve staff retention:

• Including young staff on advisory boards that advise the firm on significant decisions.
• Creating mentoring programs.
• Deferring decisions on accepting engagements until they know they have the available resources.
• Changing schedules when staff is overloaded.
• Recognizing the leverage young people have today.
• Keeping technology assets up to date.
• Focusing on career development.
• Providing varied work experience.
• Fostering candid communication.

It’s a myth that generations X and Y aren’t hard workers. They’re willing to work hard, but they’re not willing to put work ahead of their personal lives. And they want to be given more and more responsibility quickly.

Baby boomers are among the groups that need to be retained. Some don’t want to retire but do expect recognition and more flexibility.

For the complete article, click here and select Youth Will be Served from the January 7, 2008, issue.

From Accounting Today, January 7, 2008, SourceMedia Inc., One State Street Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10004, 800-221-1809.

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