Keeping Good Employees By Marisa DiBiaso, Project Assistant

In this current job market it is vital to main- . • Safety training demonstrates that the company tain high employee retention. A low supply of cares about the workers. employees available to fill public works positions • Management training reinforces the relation­ means that most departments can't afford to lose ship between workers and supervisors. employees. The longer an employee works for a company, the more valuable he or she becomes. Management To retain good employees use a good benefits package, training, and efficient management. This Effective management is another important article will explore ways that public works depart- factor to retain employees. A high turnover of ·ments can retain employees. workers is often a sign that the management needs improvement. Assess management's leadership. A Benefits good leader can delegate authority, allowing the employee to make decisions. Benefit packages make a position more desir­ Often, it is the management's responsibility to able, especially when hiring and retaining person­ give the workers incentive. Giving awards or set­ nel. Benefits that might influence the length of ting realistic, yet challenging, goals can provide time an employee stays with a company include: incentive. The idea is to make the workers feel • Time offcan include paid vacations, sick time, like part of a team and valuable to the company. It and unpaid leave. Many people find free time is the responsibility of the management to show more valuable than money, particularly with the appreciation and recognition for a job well done. younger generation and people with families. The management also has a duty to resolve • Flexible schedules. Irregular work schedules conflicts. By solving problems fairly, management and 30 hours weeks are becoming more popular. makes the best decisions for the company and the • Health insurance. A good health insurance workers. Here are some steps for solving problems program is always a bonus, often a necessity. • Determine the facts. • Retirement plans. Retirement or saving plans • Identify problems. can help with employee retention. • Develop solutions. Ask current employees about their benefits. • Implement the best solution. They may have suggestions on how benefit pack­ • Follow up (or follow through). ages can be improved. Communication Training Communication is the single best way to assess Training programs attract and retain the effectiveness of the retention program and employees, among other advantages. company policies. Listen to the workers' com­ • The company gains a more skilled worker, plaints and complements. Ask employees who've making the worker feel more valuable and been around awhile why they stay. Interview productive. departing employees, to learn why they're leaving. • More skills can mean more money to the If anyone should know how to keep workers, it's employee. the workers themselves. • Training can qualify a worker for a better There are many ways to retain employ­ position. ees. Examine the company's benefit packages, •A job that boasts training can bring motivated training, and management to see what improve­ individuals to the company, who are willing to ments can be made. Communicate with workers expand their field ofexpertise. continued on page 7 RoadBusiness, Winter 2000, Vol. 15, No.4 page 3 • NPDES II. continuedfrom page 3 l' Road Business, Fall 2000 l' EPA Fact Sheets and other information at to find out exactly what makes them stay at a job. www.epa.gov/owmlsw/phase2/ Keeping workers satisfied benefits both the • GASB 34. worker and the municipality. l' Road Business, Summer 2000. Sources: l' www.gasb.org "Attracting & Retaining Employees: Here are Some New Ideas to Try." l' www.gfoa.org Solutionsfor Business. 1999. Advancement L.L.C. 06 Jun. 2000 http://www.advanara.comlnewsletlaprilmaylemploy.html • MUTCD Millennium Edition. Hendrix, Larry D. "Retention- Keeping Good Employees Productive and on l' Electronic copies are available at the Job." TourismEducationalMaterials. 19 JUD. 2000. Michigan State University Extension. 06 Jun. 2000 http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/. http://www.msue.msu.edulimp/modtdl33129605.html l' Hard copies are planned for the spring. Kennedy, Marilyn Moats. "It Looks like a Benefit. but for Whom?" Milepost Mar. 1999,10·12. • Retroreflective Street Name Signs. continuedfrom page 8 l' Road Business, Spring 1999 l' MUTCD Millennium Edition, Chapter 2D ferent divisions and the city's homepage. Infor­ • Center and Edge Line Marking.. mation is easy to locate, including contact infor­ l' Road Business, Spring 2000 mation. l' MUTCD Millennium Edition, Part 3 The Somersworth Public Works Department • Retroreflectivity minimums. also has an effective website. Visually, it is inter­ l' Researchers have published and presented esting to look at, boasting construction-related papers in transportation engineering graphics and even animation. A small amount of professional journals and meetings. animation can be pleasing if it loads quickly. The l' The first information for a general audi­ overall effect is practical and not overwhelming. ence will probably be the proposed rule­ Links are clearly defmed, the background and text making. colors contrast well, and the Department's home­ • Wetlands permits. page fits on one screen. The page loaded quickly. l' RSA-A:3 can be found at An effective website conveys vital informa­ http://sudoc.nhsl.lib.nh.us/rsal tion without overwhelming the visitor. Care l' NHDES Fact Sheets are at should be taken when choosing fonts and back­ http://www.des.state.nh.us/wet.htm grounds. A simple website is often more profes­ sional than an extravagant one. UNH 12 Center Assistance Claremont's website: www.claremontnh.comldpwindex.htm Publications. The UNH 'f2 Center has past Somersworth's website: www.nh.ultranet.coml-sdpw/mission.htm Road Business articles and hard copies of many Useful design tips: website documents. They will obtain other http://www.geocities:comlfeaturedsitesltips.html. information as it is published. Information Sources: "Website Design Tips". The Best of Athens. Aug ..28, 2000. requests can be by phone, fax, or email to UNH T2 http://www.geocities.comlfeaturedsitesltips.html. Center. Newsletter. Future Road Business articles will cover new regulations as published. Articles will cover local practices and suggestions for compliance with rules. Workshops. In 2001 the UNH T2 Center plans workshops covering these regulations. In addition to describing them, instructors will describe management and technical solutions to reduce impacts.

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