3 Ways to Convince a Demoralized Employee to Stay

There comes a time in many employees’ lives when they feel it is time for them to move on. This may be as a result of that employee’s desire to take on a new career path, or they may have personal or family obligations that require them to leave their position. In cases like these, it can be difficult to encourage an employee to stay.

But what about when an employee is leaving because they feel demoralized or unvalued? Especially when this is an employee who you value very much, and is a critical part of your team? In this article we will be discussing how to convince a demoralized employee to stay, and how to prevent these feelings from resurfacing.

Offer a Pay Increase

Has it been a while since your employee has seen a raise? Or worse, have they not seen an increase in salary since the start of their employment? Many employers mistake an employee not requesting a wage increase as an indication that they are happy with their current pay. This assumption usually couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, most employees feel it is the employer’s obligation to offer a pay increase as a way of recognition for their hard work, and dedication to the company.

In fact, sometimes an increase in pay is the only thing that the employee is really looking for, and their low morale is directly related to the fact that they are not being properly compensated for their work. While letting an employee know what a great job they’re doing is important, it’s even more important that the employee is being fairly compensated for that work.

Discuss Options for Growth

Just like lack of adequate pay can be a demoralizing factor for employees, so can the feeling of never being able to move forward within the company. Offering employees an opportunity for growth is a great motivator, and often a great way to convince an employee to stay on board. If you feel that your employee has the potential to be positioned in a leadership role in the company, offering to enroll them in change management courses so that they can effect the changes they may be looking for within the company could be a great way to show them you’re serious about righting what they feel needs to change. It can also help your demoralized employee feel confident that growth within the company is a real, and attainable possibility for them.

Reassess Management Styles

How a company is managed plays a major role in staff morale. In fact, poor management is often the defining factor in an employee’s desire to leave. What’s worse, is that management is often unaware of the extent that their management styles are negatively impacting the staff. This is where a management style reassessment may help, especially if employee input is encouraged in this reassessment.

If you’re concerned about your management team’s ability to effectively communicate with staff, they may benefit from a facilitation skills workshop to help them enhance their organizational, and conflict resolving skills. Taking measures to improve the way that employees are managed can not only encourage a demoralized employee to stay but offer them comfort in the knowledge that positive change is on the horizon.