Become a preferred employer

Attracting and retaining the best staff - both high performers and valuable back up staff - is a key issue, especially in the Australian context of skills shortages. You will do better if you can develop your reputation as a best practice company.

What can you do? Offering a range of staff benefits helps - ranging from paid education, gym memberships and nights out to overseas trips, up to share options and retention bonuses. Retention typically focuses on two areas - career advancement, and reward and recognition. Recognition can be as simple as bestowing a title, the power to make decisions, or the responsibility for managing other staff.

Another consideration is culture. Staff don't like working for a company where there is a clash of values. Look at your company's culture - does it need changing?

Best practice companies: Check out the 100 Best Companies to Work For - see what qualities & conditions employees value.

Hays Recruitment compiles an annual cross-sector salary survey.
www.hays.com.au/salary/