STAFF RETENTION IN A COST OF LIVING CRISIS
With the cost of living crisis deepening, many members of staff who work in education settings will understandably be focused on making sure that they are provided with all the support and help that is needed to keep them motivated and enjoying their job. Those working in Special Needs (SEN) settings will most feel the effect of the significant period that we are in as they are having to plan with working with the most vulnerable of people whilst dealing with life matters outside of education settings. Keeping staff retention high is, therefore, one of the most critical areas for a school or college to focus on to be able to navigate through a difficult period and there are several ways to do this.
Provide Initiatives
One of the first ways of keeping staff retention high in education settings in a cost of living crisis is providing key initiatives to employees so that morale is kept up which will in turn help keep staff turnover as low as possible. These initiatives could be anything from promoting staff sharing the costs of getting to work from car shares to cycle to work schemes, raffles to staff events to help keep the positivity up. Remembering to compliment staff and colleagues costs nothing but can help make the workplace a much happier place. Initiatives like these can boost confidence levels and keep staff motivation high leading to less turnover and high retention.
Being flexible with staff
Another way to keep staff retention high in education settings in a cost of living crisis is being able to collaborate with staff so that they can be flexible but also work in way that keeps them familiar with what is required and does not overload them or exceeds their limits. A key factor currently during the cost of living crisis is that there is evidence that there has been high turnover of teachers and teaching assistants because of pay and the factor of them moving to jobs that are less stressful for them. It is possible therefore that employees will find it hard to adapt to changes and the possibility of heavier workloads. It is therefore critical that staff can agree a way to be flexible but also have them work in appropriate areas that can suit their strengths and keep the quality of service high.
Do learning outside if possible
For another suggestion of trying to keep staff retention high in education setting, staff can be encouraged to work with students outside of the classroom, if possible, sometimes. The benefits of doing this is that can help with the wellbeing of staff and could also improve the quality of education that is provided to the students. Outside learning does not have to be done from a long distance away, it can be done at the local park or at a quiet area where students can concreate the most. Whist doing education within an educational building is the best for staff and students, a lesson out can help with motivation and moral for everyone involved.
Have support programmes or workshops
Finally, another way to keep staff retention high at education is providing employees with any helpful programmes or skilful workshops that could be useful to members of staff when a period of difficulty is happening. They do not need to necessarily be about education, but they could be helpful to staff members who are struggling outside of work and how they can deal with the circumstances they face. This will potentially help keep staff retention high and reduce turnover as it will look like the school/college is providing key support and interesting in the wellbeing of its employees.
We are all feeling the strains of rising living costs, the cost of being kind and caring is free so please look after those around you, as well as yourself.