pizza parties are not a retention strategy

You lost several team members last quarter. Since you’re well aware of the value of keeping your team cohesive, you propose some strategies to sweeten the pot and keep them engaged at work. So you create space in the company’s budget to show your employees how much they’re appreciated. 

$20 gift cards, a snack bar, a pizza party.

But where in this process did we ask them what would make them feel valued? If you don’t have the budget for bonuses, what skills or certifications do they want to add to their toolkit? 

We can’t promote retention without conducting a needs assessment and figuring out what your team’s needs actually are. 

What are some ways your company makes you feel valued?