Full-Service HR

When Top Talent Resigns

Ella Baker
When top talent resigns
Reading time 4 Mins
Published on Aug 13
Share

Don’t let a resignation ruin your company

It’s never pleasant when a valued employee resigns. Making sure your business stays on track and that your other employees remain productive should be your top priority following the departure of a key employee.

Taking the right steps following a resignation can help stop talent drain, increase your retention rates, improve productivity, and help you improve your employee engagement.

Communicate with the remaining team

Your first and foremost action after a resignation must be the retention of your existing staff. A vital step toward that end is communication with your remaining team. Share the news with your staff in a positive manner, without speaking ill of your departing employee, and showing appreciation for the work they’ve contributed to your company. Maintain regular, open dialogue with your remaining team and encourage honest conversation about what your company can do better and how you can retain your talent.

Eliminate the opportunity for gossip by announcing the news as soon as possible. By acknowledging the loss of your employee and talking to your staff about the how you’ll manage the workflow to come will help maintain a more even atmosphere – putting a stop to the panic before it can start. Be positive and open – you’ll be surprised how uplifting it can be for your staff and how it can reduce further attrition.

Invite your remaining staff to provide feedback regarding how you can change your organization for the better, including workload distribution, organizational policies, and employee engagement strategies. Enhancing morale now can help you stave off the possibility of other employees jumping ship.

Aim for a smooth transition

Whenever someone leaves a small or mid-size company, the redistribution of workloads can create serious disruption for the remaining staff. If the person leaving was a superstar with a large chunk of assignments or had managerial responsibilities, taking steps to minimize the disruption is even more important to the long-term success of your company.

Ideally, top employees will provide significant notice before departing. You and your team will need to take advantage of this time to close out any ongoing projects so that you don’t risk leaving customers hanging. Create a collaborative atmosphere among the remaining team and divvy up important tasks amongst those most capable of handling them. Encourage your exiting employee to help identify those that should take on key tasks. Take this time to ensure that you can fill any skills gaps in your company – offering opportunities for training or professional development, if necessary. This could be a great opportunity for other members of your staff to step up and demonstrate their superstar potential.

Using this time to ensure that all of the duties of your exiting employee are covered will allow you to maintain production and service levels. The changeover period when a top employee leaves requires major adjustments and taking the time to give the right guidance will assist in making that transition as seamless as possible.

Prevent additional losses

Use the departure as an opportunity to increase your retention rates. Honestly take stock of your efforts, engagement programs, company culture, and recognition. Making any changes necessary will allow you to keep your other talent, preventing further disruption to your company.

Begin by conducting an exit interview with your resigning employee. Ask questions that get to the heart of why the employee is leaving and how you can improve the employment experience of your remaining staff. Use the feedback that you get from your exiting employee to build a more proactive approach to employee retention.

Let Sheakley help you reduce turnover

Managing the transition when a superstar employee resigns is never easy. While these steps will help you make that change easier, taking a proactive approach to talent retention can help you avoid the issue altogether. Let Sheakley’s human resources and PEO experts help you develop strategies that will allow you to retain your top talent.

Claim your free consultation with Sheakley today to help you retain your best employees. Stay up-to-date on all things Sheakley by subscribing to our blog and following us on social media. Join in the discussion by commenting below.


You may want to read

See all articles
X
X
X
X