In Episode 9 we discuss a listener question related to employee retention (shout out to Steve Nash at Upscale Remodeling!). We think retention is closely tied to culture so we brought in an expert- Allison DeLand. Allison is the VP of Administration at Case and has worn many hats for the organization during her 20 years with the business. The conversation is wide ranging and addresses what we do in our business to retain employees and foster a healthy company culture: - events: company picnic, lunches, happy hours, Annual Meeting - engaging the team in Case Cares, giving back to our community - celebrations: quarter century club, milestone anniversaries  - employee surveys: what do they think and the importance of responding to these issues - fair compensation packages - Personal Growth Fund- $500/ year to spend on education, fitness, technology, etc. - recognizing personal events: birthdays, marriages, babies, someone close passing away, etc. - just spending time with people getting to know them - understanding that employees go through an evolution: want to be told what to do when new, want you out of their way as they mature in the role - emphasize “fit” in the hiring process and onboarding new hires to have a holistic understanding of the business   We also spend some time discussing how much more difficult this can be with members of the field team. They are not in the office everyday and may not feel as connected. We try to address this by making them feel part of the team rather than out on an island by themselves. In our case, the Project Manager, regular job site visits, regular communication and inclusion are all part of these efforts.    We wrap up by highlighting the “Can Do” award. Anyone can recommend someone for this award that is given to an individual the goes above and beyond in helping a client or team mate. The award is $100 and being recognized in company wide email and newsletter communications. 15-20 individuals are typically recognized each month.   If you have an idea for a future topic, or questions about this episode, please contact us at [email protected]