Cultivating Success: 10 Tips For Retaining Long-Term Employees

As we approach the end of the year, it's an opportune moment to evaluate your business's performance. How has your company fared, and perhaps more importantly, what is the status of your employee turnover? Retaining employees in the cannabis industry is crucial, especially considering the significant financial impact of a bad hire, which can cost your business between $25,000 and $50,000. Building a strong team requires more than just attracting skilled professionals; it involves creating an environment that fosters growth, loyalty, and job satisfaction. 

Here are our top ten best practices to retaining top talent in the cannabis industry:

1. Start with Quality Hires

Ensuring the longevity of your workforce starts by recruiting individuals worth retaining. Dedicate time to carefully craft a job description and employ strategic resume screening techniques to assess organizational fit. Invest time in conducting multiple interviews, and exerting effort to evaluate potential hires. The additional time invested in finding the ideal match results in future time and financial savings.

2. Onboard Thoughtfully

Onboarding is more than just training; it's about integrating new hires into your workplace seamlessly. Establish standardized onboarding procedures, including the development of a training manual or e-learning course, imparting knowledge about the organization's mission and culture, introducing them to colleagues, and scheduling regular check-ins. Personalize the onboarding experience over the first few months to understand individual strengths and areas for improvement, fostering an environment for them to thrive.

3. Communicate Clear Expectations

Unclear expectations lead to confusion and frustration. In the dynamic cannabis industry, clear communication is paramount. Establish a consistent channel for disseminating meeting details, deadlines, and other critical updates. During onboarding, thoroughly discuss job roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Beyond onboarding, regularly review expectations, especially during performance evaluations or staff meetings.

4. Invest in Career Development

Employees remain loyal when their career development is nurtured, for some this is extremely rewarding and motivating. Offer opportunities for cross-training, additional education, coaching, and advancement within the company. Establish genuine relationships with your staff to understand their long-term aspirations. 

5. Conduct Regular Performance Reviews

Make employee performance reviews a routine part of your operations. Given the recent developments in the cannabis industry, ongoing evaluations are crucial for ensuring your employees can adapt to changes.

6. Open Communication Channels

Foster open and transparent communication within the organization. Encourage feedback, address concerns promptly, and involve employees in decision-making processes to make them feel heard and valued. Open communication fosters a positive organizational culture, creating an environment that employees want to be a part of.

7. Flexible Work Arrangements

Acknowledge the diverse needs of your workforce by offering flexible work arrangements when possible. Whether it's flexible hours or remote work options, providing flexibility can contribute to employee satisfaction, especially with the shift of working from home during Covid.

8. Establish a Positive Company Culture

Organizational culture significantly influences employee retention. Cultivate a positive culture through newsletters, surveys, recognizing exceptional employees, fostering social connections, empowering employees, and organizing events inside and outside the workplace. Establishing a positive company culture helps create a sense of belonging and encourages long-term commitment.

9. Offer a Competitive Benefits Package

Stay competitive in terms of salary and benefits. Provide a competitive benefits package, including traditional offerings like health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as non-traditional benefits such as flexible hours, work-from-home options, fitness classes, and partnerships for employee discounts. Regularly reviewing and adjusting compensation packages to align with industry standards, can go a long way in employee retention.  

10. Connect with HR Professionals

Consider working with a human resources professional if you encounter challenges in any area of recruitment. External HR agencies, like White Ash Group, offer specialized support tailored to the unique needs of the cannabis industry, increasing the success rate of placing the right individual in the job opportunity available.

Retaining long-term employees in the cannabis industry requires a strategic approach that goes beyond traditional HR practices. By fostering a positive company culture, investing in employee development, and prioritizing their well-being, businesses can create an environment where employees thrive and choose to stay for the long haul. In doing so, not only will companies benefit from a skilled and committed workforce, but they will also contribute to the overall success and growth of the cannabis industry as a whole.