Part of a Team

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by December 2008, the number of unemployed individuals soared up to 11.1 million. The circle of unemployment and decreased production is leading warehouse owners to run leaner and meaner than ever. A key element of running lean is controlling labor costs. These costs encompass elements like advertising, recruiting, administrative costs, training, and most notably turnover.

A major question that managers face is how to keep a consistent workforce, so that turnover is kept at a minimum. Empowering employees may be one of the most effective methods to making them feel as if they are an important aspect of the company. Involving your workers in process and policymaking gives them a sense of importance. Besides, who better to help with developing internal processes then those individuals that enveloped in the daily activities of the warehouse activities?

Positive reinforcement is just an important as promoting employee involvement in policy deployment. Although, it is important to promote disciplinary action if an employee breaks company policy, it is just an important to promote a policy of positive reinforcement. Even though employees are doing their jobs, they want to feel as though they are an asset to their employer. Uttering the phrase “good job” to someone that put forth the extra effort can make the difference between an employee doing a mediocre job or putting pride in his or her work in the future.

Begin by including these simple elements as part of your training program. Soon it will become a natural part of your organizations culture.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Unemployment in December 2008
FOSTYK, MICHAEL. "Avoiding employee turnover." Warehousing Management. 2001. HighBeam Research. (January 22, 2009)