The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave: How to Recognize the Subtle Signs and Act Before It's Too Late 2nd Edition

A unique opportunity at another company. A step up in position. More money. We ve all heard the familiar explanations offered by employees as they head off to newer and presumably better career opportunities. But is employee turnover just the unavoidable cost of doing business? Or is there something proactive you and your organization can do to keep your best people around for years to come?

Based on enlightening research, the original edition of The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave revealed that despite what we believe, people are four times more likely to leave a job because of something going on in the workplace than for an outside opportunity. But after the seismic changes that have shaken the economy and the job market these past few years, are the reasons employees leave still the same?

Incorporating the results of more than 1,000 new post-exit surveys asking new questions such as “Was there a triggering event?, What could your employer have done to make you want to change your mind and stay?, and Did you look for another job while still employed? , the Second Edition adds new depth and relevance to the original research.

Has money become more of a key issue for people deciding to leave, now that the job market is slowly picking back up? How have workers evolving thoughts on company culture and integrity and a growing lack of trust in senior leadership affected their reasons for staying or leaving? Packed with all new strategies and wisdom, the second edition shows you how to identify the warning signs of unmet expectations, and best act on them. You ll find out how to:

Use smart talent strategies to avoid employee-job mismatches.

Incorporate a five-step coaching and feedback process that builds strong and durable working relationships.

Build an environment of mutual trust and confidence.

Create growth and advancement oppor­tunities that keep pace with career expectations of all four generations.

Understand the emotional impact of compensation and recognition done well.

Leverage exit and turnover data to increase employee retention.

According to more than 80 percent of employees, it s not just seeing greener grass on the other side of the fence that makes them leave; it s the underlying negative factors that exist in their current workplaces. Filled with surprising revelations, this brand new edition of The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave provides up-to-the-minute strategies for holding on to your employees in any market.

LEIGH BRANHAM is founder/principal of the consulting firm Keeping the People, Inc. (www.keepingthepeople.com), and the author of Keeping the People Who Keep You in Business. He is also the co-author, with Mark Hirschfeld, ofRe-Engage: How America s Best Places to Work Inspire Extra Effort in Extraordinary Times. He lives in Overland Park, Kansas.

Most managers blame employee turnover on the lure of other companies…even when the real issues are well within their control. Based on research conducted by the prestigious Saratoga Institute—and now extensively revised and bolstered by the results of an all-new post-exit survey—the second edition of The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave provides an uncommonly candid account of why your company may be losing its best people. From poor management practices to toxic work­place cultures, the book helps you identify the “push” factors in your organization, and mitigate or eliminate all of them.

Examining dynamics such as manager relationships, lack of trust in senior leadership, company culture and integrity, salary, and benefits, and more, this thoroughly updated edition shows you how to align employee expectations with the realities of the position, avoid job person mismatches, and provide feedback and coaching that breed employee confidence. Surprising and practical, this profoundly valuable book holds the secrets to retaining the people who make your company the best it can be.

Praise for the First Edition of The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave:

“In this book, Branham has turned the tables on retention. His concept of pull-versus-push factors is a great insight. Many people are not pulled out of an organization by a better offer. They are pushed to the door so that when a better offer comes along it is easy to take the last step across the threshold. Every one of the seven reasons Leigh cites for turnover are preventable and not expensive. From selection for fit, to on-the-job support, to being valued, the organization has the power to keep almost anyone they want. Having outlined the problem, Leigh then provides over 50 ways to engage and keep people. This is an invaluable guidebook on retention.”

—Dr. Jac Fitz-enz, Founder & CEO, Human Capital Source; author of The ROI of Human Capital

“Any book that can give you ideas that help you retain just one employee is worth the cover price many times over. Leigh Branham’s book can help you hold on to your best. It’s chock full of practical examples and suggestions, best practices, and inspiring stories. Highly recommended.”

—Robert Levering, coauthor of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work for” list;

cofounder of the Great Place to Work® Institute