Strategies for Retaining Staff

With age comes wisdom, and seniors have an abundance of it. Seniors are society’s natural historians and philosophers, which makes them a venerable part of the population. With such an important role, seniors are worthy of the best care and hospitality senior living communities can provide. But when communities are short-staffed, providing even basic levels of care and attention that their seniors need becomes a challenge. Indeed, senior living providers across the country are struggling to retain high-performing, loyal workers. 

Experts predict that this trend is likely to continue, so it is imperative to find effective strategies to address this persistent issue. As an industry leader in hiring, training and retaining top talent, Sodexo Seniors has earned the reputation of being an employer of choice. We’ve developed a proven approach to hiring and retaining top talent.

Elements for Employee Retention

First, nothing makes employees feel more valued than treating them with respect and showing them appreciation. Respect and appreciation are essential for increasing employees’ satisfaction and building their trust and loyalty. Employees who feel respected and appreciated tend to be happier about their jobs and eager to come to work each day, and this cultivates a sense of camaraderie among all employees.

Second, regular communication is integral to make sure everyone feels connected. The more employees know, the more they feel like important members of the team. Besides prioritizing communication with their employees, people managers should also communicate with each other to share best practices and support each other.

Third, as the senior care industry evolves, ongoing training is a vital step to ensure that employees know the latest practices and techniques and how to implement them in their jobs. Training also increases employees’ competence and confidence, which empowers them to handle difficult situations. 

And fourth, community leadership should be compassionate. This entails making the health and safety of employees a priority. Employers who practice compassionate leadership have employees who feel well-cared for, which will lead to employees’ motivation to provide the best care for others. 

These elements constitute our recipe for successfully retaining employees. Our dining staff choose to remain with us for decades as they move up the ranks. Moreover, they are helpful and caring individuals who are truly committed to creating exceptional experiences for seniors. By adhering to this recipe, Sodexo Seniors has experienced great retention rates, and we believe that you can too. 

Contact us to find out how partnering with Sodexo Seniors can elevate your dining and hospitality experiences with engaged and loyal employees.