How to win back employees on the verge of leaving

Question:

How do I change the mind of an employee who may be on the verge of leaving?

Answer:

Sometimes, whether an employee stays is completely out of your hands. There are multiple reasons a person wants to leave a job—some could be work related, and others personal.

You can’t change an employee’s personal life, so dig deeper into the job-related issues.  Try to make the conversation as comfortable as possible for them, so that they can be candid. If an employee has grievances about the work environment, you might be able to accommodate some of their needs. But keep in mind that whatever you do needs to be lawful and fair to the entire staff. There are no secrets on a team: You don’t want your actions to lead to distention, mistrust, jealousy or entitlement.

You certainly don’t want to “beg” someone to stay at a job.  It could come back to haunt you.  Change can be good, and many candidates are waiting in the wings, ready to better themselves and contribute to your organization. It might just be the move that takes your organization to new heights.

—Jim Korner
Assistant VP, Professional and Community Education
Penn State University Outreach and Online Education