Staff recognition encourages retention

This month's news is dominated with company expansion plans and joint ventures, just another indicator pointing towards a boom in the facilities management sector.

While this is great news for the industry and shows a positive growth and need for them to be here, there is still a strain on staff retention as Construction Week's editor, Angela Giuffrida reports in the article, 'Keeping hold of your staff'.

In response to the article, that was originally posted on www.arabianbusiness.com, I wrote a short comment piece asking that as long as employees were paid a fair wage in line with rising inflation, should companies look more towards career development and housing benefits to help retain their staff?

We received a number of comments but one that stood out for its simplicity, was: "Employment is a two way street - you get what you give.

"Those firms who consider employees an asset to the company and treat them accordingly have no problem retaining staff. Unfortunately, firms of that stature are the minority and not the majority here."

For those companies willing to think about staff retention, initiatives come in a variety of forms, but often the most simple are the most effective.

We all like to be praised for a job well done. Whether it's a verbal "thanks", a shake of the hand, a financial bonus or possible promotion.

And let's face it, between all of you involved in the facilities management industry, there is a lot of praise to be given, as these buildings don't manage themselves.

Last month we launched the facilities management Middle East Awards to recognise your hard work, your commitment and your dedication to the industry.

But with only four weeks to go until the nomination deadline, time is ticking away for you to get your entries in.

So if you think you, your company or more importantly, your employees deserve to shine, log on to www.itp.net/events/fmawards for more information. Good luck!

This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it is the editor for facilities management Middle East.

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Staff recognition encourages retention
Posted by Firozali A. Mulla MBA PhD, DUBAI, UAE on Sunday 13 April 2008 at 15:46 UAE time


Becca Wilson
Keeping hold of your staff
Have you read, “How to win friends and influence people??’ It is a book written by Dale Carnegie. There was a shortfall. Dale said, “Stones and sticks may break by bones, words don’t”. The book was written in 50s and 60s. Then people had love and there was no need of the harsh word and if there was, it had to be ignored. Alas the later years we realised that we have to treat the human as humans and be very careful with the words or there is a hard-core element coming up form outside or inside. True. What is a sabotage? The inner circle of employees not working in line with the rules and regulations. I am amazed that you still seek the reality of the employees needs when the cash is the main incentive. There is no two-way traffic if there is no clear definition of what exactly is the traffic. Here is one way. Give more cash and occasional pat on the back occasionally. You do not need two ways. Only one way will do. This is the problem. We have the true love between the employers and employees however; we are looking more into the HR and put the Captain, Chairperson into the seat of employers. They are not. .There is line between the HR that manages the employees and the entrepreneurs. We cannot tell the chairperson the problems of the labour force. It is not his job. Hence, we will have this debate carry on on on on .Look at the heading. KEEPING HOLD .. You do not hold them, you employ them. You hold slaves, parrots, and cats.
Rephrase this you will have better employees. The cover tells me a lot about the contents of the book.
I thank you
Firozali Mulla MBA PhD

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