Employee Retention Strategies in Consumer Healthcare Sector

Attrition is a common challenge faced by most if not all industries, including the consumer healthcare sector. The attrition rate in Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals in India in Jan-March quarter was 15.67% and for Oct-Dec quarter was 14.11%. High rates of employee turnover can be costly for companies, as they need to constantly hire and train new employees to fill vacancies. In order to combat attrition, companies can implement learning solutions that help employees develop their skills, stay engaged and be more productive in their work.

In the consumer healthcare industry, where competition is fierce, retaining talent is crucial for the sustained growth of the business. High attrition rates can lead to a loss of institutional knowledge, decreased productivity, and increased recruitment costs.

In order to address attrition within consumer healthcare companies, implementing effective strategies is essential. Let’s walk through a few employee retention strategies that may be effective in combating attrition:

Focus on employee engagement: Engaged employees are more likely to stay with a company. Consumer companies can create a culture that fosters engagement by promoting open communication, offering growth opportunities, recognizing employee contributions, and providing a positive work environment.The way forward for corporate learning and employee engagement-Digital and Virtual Learning programs, Gamified content, In person Virtual Learning.

Offer competitive compensation and benefits: Employees are more likely to stay with a company that offers competitive compensation and benefits. Consumer healthcare companies can conduct market research to ensure their compensation packages are competitive and offer perks such as flexible work arrangements, health and wellness programs, and employee discounts.

  • On-the-Job Training: One effective learning solution for combating attrition is on-the-job training provided at TeamLease Skills University. This can involve mentoring, job shadowing, or cross-training opportunities that help employees develop new skills and gain practical experience. For example, an employee in a customer service role could be given the opportunity to shadow a sales representative, gaining insight into the sales process and developing a better understanding of the products they are selling.
  • Continuing Education: Another learning solution is continuing education for long term retention. This could involve offering courses, workshops, or conferences that help employees stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices in the healthcare industry. By investing in their employees’ professional development, companies can create a more knowledgeable and skilled workforce that are better equipped to adapt to changes in the industry.
  • Providing leadership development programs is another effective way to combat attrition. These programs can help employees develop the skills they need to take on more senior roles within the organization. This could involve training in areas like communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution. By investing in the development of their employees, companies can create a culture of growth and opportunity that encourages employees to stay with the company long-term.
  • Career Development: Consumer healthcare companies could also offer career development programs that help employees set goals and develop a plan to achieve them. This could include career counseling, online certification programs, skills assessments, online degree/diploma programs from India’s best universities,  that help employees identify their strengths and areas for improvement. By providing employees with a clear path for growth and development, companies can help to increase job satisfaction and reduce attrition.

Finally, creating a positive work environment is key to combating attrition. This could involve regular feedback and recognition, team-building activities, and opportunities for employees to provide input and feedback. By creating a culture of openness and transparency, companies can foster a sense of community and belonging that encourages employees to stay with the company long-term.

In conclusion, implementing learning solutions-a combination of both ongoing byte sized programs and long term courses is one of the critical employee retention strategies in the consumer healthcare industry. By providing employees with on-the-job training, continuing education opportunities, leadership development programs, career development initiatives, and employee engagement activities, companies can create a more skilled, engaged, and productive workforce. By investing in their employees’ professional growth and well-being, organisations can foster a culture of growth and opportunity that encourages long-term commitment and loyalty.

Author

Balasubramanian A

VP & Business Head
TeamLease Services Limited

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