Research shows it takes about two years for new hires to get up to speed with their new job.

Even if they know the duties, they still need to learn how things are done at your NPO.

Combine that with high turnover in nonprofit and you have a problem…

Many new employees leave before they’re ever fully productive!

And the cycle continues…

That’s why leaders need to think strategically about employee retention from the start.

Employee retention isn’t just about benefits and compensation (though those do help.)

It’s about showing your people respect and giving them the tools they need to succeed.

This may be simpler than it looks.

When funds are tight, think STRUCTURE, not SPENDING.

What do I mean?

With employee onboarding, you can cut in half the time it takes new hires to get settled.

That gives them greater confidence and a sense of belonging.

“ONBOARDING” ISN’T JUST ABOUT HAVING A KEY TO THE BREAK ROOM…

It means smoothing out the learning curve.

During your onboarding, be sure to cover:

• Common issues or challenges of the role at your organization and what has worked for others.
• Where to direct comments, questions, or concerns; how to get feedback and advice as needed.
• How the role is evaluated, what success looks like, and how to know if you’re on the right track.
• And (yes) how technology is used at your organizations, from Excel to CRMs to Slack or Teams.

Remember: Employee retention starts on Day 1!