Retention Tension: Are Your Employees Headed for the Door?

More Than Half of Tech and Creative Executives Worry About Employee Turnover

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2016 /CNW/ - As nearly all experiences go digital – from reading the news to requesting a ride – demand continues to rise for people with the technical and creative expertise to deliver positive online customer experiences. These highly skilled workers, including developers, designers and UI/UX specialists, are hard to find – and equally challenging to keep. In fact, research from staffing experts at Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group shows more than half of CIOs (67 per cent) and advertising and marketing executives (52 per cent) interviewed are worried about employee retention over the next 12 months.

When asked how they prevent top performers from leaving, the most common responses from the CIOs and creative executives surveyed were engaging in frequent conversations about performance and career development, regularly benchmarking compensation and benefits to remain competitive, and checking in often with employees about their on-the-job happiness.

Additional research findings include:

• Nearly three-quarters (71 per cent) of technology executives said losing a highly skilled team member without notice would have a somewhat adverse impact on their business because they would be stretched thin until a replacement was found.
• Six in 10 (61 per cent) creative executives said they experience the most turnover among entry-level employees.
• The top causes of employee turnover are limited opportunities for career growth and job boredom, according to creative executives.

View a slideshow of the research.

"Successful digital projects require technology, marketing and content specialists who can work together to meet evolving business needs," said Deborah Bottineau, senior regional manager of Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group. "With so many opportunities available to professionals with strong technical and interpersonal skills, recruiting and retaining in-demand talent is a big challenge for companies."

"Developing proactive retention strategies that encourage open conversation about job satisfaction and career growth can help reduce employee turnover by ensuring workers feel valued, motivated and engaged," added Bottineau.

For tips on preventing employee turnover and boosting staff retention, visit roberthalf.ca/technology and roberthalf.ca/creativegroup.

About the Research
The surveys were developed by Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group, and conducted by an independent research firm. They include responses from more than 270 Canadian CIOs and 400 U.S. advertising and marketing executives.

About Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group
Both Robert Half Technology (roberthalf.ca/technology) and The Creative Group (roberthalf.ca/creativegroup) are divisions of Robert Half, the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm and a recognized leader in professional staffing services. For career and management advice, follow our blog at roberthalf.ca/blog. Follow Robert Half Canada on Twitter at @RobertHalf_CAN for additional workplace advice and hiring trends.

Contact: Naz Araghian
416.865.2140
[email protected]

SOURCE Robert Half Technology