Do you know if your employees are satisfied with their jobs? It’s a scary question if you think about it. Even though most salon owners will admit that they don’t expect their 18-year-old bed cleaner to work part-time forever, few are willing to engage in open communication about what their employees really want.

What makes your happiest employees stay? What makes others want to leave? What are their ultimate career goals, and how can you help their work experience be valuable? The answer to these questions can help you reduce turnover and avoid the costs of rehiring and retraining.

According to the American Psychology Association’s “Workforce Retention Survey,” only 59 percent of employees stay at their jobs because of the compensation. Instead of fostering an environment where your staff is revolving door of temporary talent, dig deeper to find out how you can create a truly beneficial place of work.

Provide small perks that are unrelated to sales. Something as simple as bringing in a sweet treat each week can make employees feel appreciated for what they do even if they aren’t your number one salesperson. Learn your staff’s favorite treats or take them out as a team.

During initial interviews, encourage prospects to be honest about their long-term career goals. By finding ways to incorporate skills that will help them along their chosen path, employees will find more value in their job and are likely to stay longer. Sometimes, this can even help you delegate work to employees who are interested in marketing, hospitality, business or related fields.

Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine.