Retaining WorkersWith demand for workers exceeding supply and keeping skilled worker an ongoing challenge, businesses must examine their retention strategies. In response, employers are crafting new work environments that respond to employees personal and family needs as well as their career needs. Attuned employers are providing quirky perks on top of more traditional benefits to keep their talented workers happy and productive and to attract new workers. According to a Harvard study, nearly 80 percent of turnover is attributed to hiring mistakes. Many of these mistakes can be avoided if companies take the following steps to select and retain top performers:
Winning Strategies:
Regardless of the reasons for excessive turnover, employers who put effective retention strategies into place report higher employee job satisfaction, better job performance and better profits. Here are some examples of innovative companies that have been successful in creating new programs. Retention IncentivesAll the successful hiring and all the specific training in the world wont significantly improve the employment situation if employees leave the job before the company’s investment in their employment is met. Employers can access a range of incentives already in place to help their employees stay on the job. You can order tax forms, instructions and publications from the IRS by mail, telephone and fax or via the Internet. Department of the Treasury Earned income tax credit If you are interested in providing your employees the benefit of increased take-home pay at virtually no cost to your business, the Internal Revenue Service has a program called the Advanced Earned Income Tax Credit that does just that. EMPLOYEES CAN GET EXTRA MONEY IN THEIR PAYCHECKS RATHER THAN HAVING TO WAIT UNTIL THEY FILE THEIR TAX RETURNS. This is how it works: you make the advance payments to your employees from the employment taxes you would normally deposit or send to the IRS. The amount is paid to the employees with no income tax withheld. You then claim the amount as a timely payment on your quarterly employment tax form (Form 941). Signing up for the Advance EITC is easy. Simply include Form W-5, (Earned Income Tax Credit Certificate) in the package of hiring documents for new employees to sign. You do not have to send the Form W-5 to the IRS; keep the form in the employee file. Dependant Care Assistance Program The Dependant Care Assistance Program (DCAP) offers a child care benefit that employers can choose to make available to their employees. DCAP allows employees to set aside $5,000 of pre-tax earning to pay child care expenses for children under 13. The amount withheld is not subject to federal, state, and social security taxes. DCAP helps employees and employers save money. Employees save money by taking advantage of DCAP Since their withholdings reduce their taxable income. Employers save money since they do not pay social security taxes on the amount withheld. To set up a DCAP program for your employees as a part of your employee benefits package, contact your accountant to set up the withholding program. You must report all dependant care assistance provided to an employee during the year in box 10 of the employees Form W-2. Section 125 Cafeteria Plans A cafeteria plan is a written plan that allows your employees to choose between receiving cash or certain qualified benefits. It includes major medical insurance, disability income plan, accident plan, major medical supplement, cancer plan and group term life insurance. The term “cafeteria plan” is a descriptive term which has evolved because such plans offer employees a list (or the “menu”) of employee-paid benefits from which the employee may choose. You can deduct the cost of the benefits provided under a cafeteria plan on the employee benefit programs line on your business income tax return. Economic Development Incentive Program The Massachusetts Economic Development Incentive Program helps companies in designated Economic Target Areas (ETAs) retain employees by providing financial incentives. Advantages to business expanding, relocating or building new facilities and creating new permanent full-time jobs within an ETA are: 1) State tax incentives including a 5% Investment Tax Credit for qualifying tangible, depreciable assets and a 10% Abandoned Building Tax Deduction; 2) Municipal property tax incentives including a special tax assessment and tax increment financing. For more information contact the Economic Assistance Coordinating Council, (617) 973-8538. Child Care Home Health & Child Care (HHCC) is a private, non-profit agency that has been serving families and individuals since 1969 in Southeastern Massachusetts. HHCC assists and supports individuals in making informed decisions regarding family care services. They also provide a variety of workplace family care services to assist employers in addressing work and family care services to assist employers in addressing work and family issues among their workforce. These services include:
For more information about childcare programs that can benefit employers, please contact Home Health & Child Care, 15 Jonathan Drive #5, Brockton, MA 02301, (508) 588-6070 x 107. Transportation The Massachusetts Access to Jobs initiative is a collaborative effort between the Executive Office of Transportation and Construction (EOTC) and the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). Through Access to Jobs, the Brockton Area Transit Authority, along with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and 11 other regional transit authorities, are receiving funds. The program provides a coordinated system of information, transportation problem solving, training on how to access the system, and transportation services to DTA client who are making a transition into the workplace. Access to Jobs provides solutions that help current and former DTA clients make a smooth transition to work. Some of the options available include transit passes for fixed routes, ride share arrangements, a car ownership program, subsidies for car repairs, and taxi rides on a temporary basis. The Massachusetts Access to Jobs program has won the American Public Transit Associations 1999 Access to Work Award, for demonstrated leadership in providing the transportation link between current and former welfare recipients and available jobs in their communities. For more information, please contact the Brockton Area Private Industry Council, (508) 584-9800. Housing The Brockton Housing Authority is a state-chartered real estate management and development corporation whose purpose is to manage, develop and deliver affordable housing opportunities to low and moderate income people. Their primary responsibility is to create opportunities for people to live in clean, safe, and affordable housing. For more information, please contact Brockton Housing Authority, 45 Goddard Road, P.O. Box 7070, Brockton, MA 02301-7070, (508) 588-6880. Health Insurance Small businesses and their employees can gain access to more affordable health insurance through the Insurance Partnership. Under this program, small businesses that provide health insurance to their qualified employees can have part of their costs paid for by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Insurance Partnership can reduce an employers health insurance casts by up to $1,000 a year for each qualified employee. To qualify for the Insurance Partnership, businesses must meet the following criteria: 1) employ fewer than 50 full-time workers; 2) offer comprehensive health insurance to their employees; 3) pay at least 50% of the cost of health insurance. Self-employed individuals may also qualify if they meet income guidelines. For more information, please contact Employee Benefit Resources, 354 Turnpike Street, Suite 204, Canton, MA 02021, (800) 399-8285 or Interlink Business Services, (800) 487-4427. Internet Retention ResourcesInternet Employer Counselor Welfare-To-Work Information Network Society For Human Resource Management The main menu offers an extensive selection of topics, with features such as: HR News, Professional Development, Government Affairs and links on publications that will assist you in solving issues on hiring and retention. To post a job, visit our Job Furm page. |
Metro South Chamber of Commerce
Leading Businesses, Leading Communities
Join the Conversation!