How to keep good employees during crunch time It's that time of year again. Time to ramp up production, fill the greenhouses to the rafters with plants and try to find some decent seasonal help. Finding good, reliable employees may be a little more difficult this year. The reason, reports trade group National Federation of Independent Business, is 29 percent of small businesses are looking to expand, with 17 percent expecting to hire additional help. According to NFIB, expansion plans were at a 30-year record level in December. NFIB chief economist William Dunkelberg credits some of the surge in business owners' expectations in part to the end of the November election's uncertainty. Nearly half of small companies expect business conditions to improve during the first half of this year. Of the companies surveyed by NFIB, 19 percent indicated plans to create new jobs. During the past three months, 51 percent of small businesses hired or tried to hire workers, with 17 percent of owners having used temporary or leased employees. More than 75 percent of companies reported finding few or no qualified applicants. As the economy strengthens, more people are expected to start looking for better jobs. Performance-improvement firm Novations Selection, Development and Communication found that among 2,900 human resource executives it surveyed last year, 40 percent indicated that as many as half of their employees would start looking for new jobs. Novations president Tim Clark said that during the last few years many employees felt they were trapped as companies eliminated positions and asked their remaining workers to take on more responsibilities. Clark said disgruntled employees don't see much of a future with their present company and are feeling "a great deal of pent-up frustration." What employees want So what is it going to take to keep good employees motivated and not wondering if the plants and salaries are greener at the greenhouse down the road? Professional employee services company Randstad North America surveyed more than 2,500 employees and managers. It came up with five resolutions that employers can implement to improve employee morale, loyalty and productivity this year. 1. Provide good insurance/health benefits. Seventy percent of employees said benefits are the No. 1 reason for deciding whether to stay with or leave their current employer. 2. Put money in the company's 401k. Sixty-four percent of employees wanted their 401k accounts funded. When given the choice when business was good between big raises or bonuses or small, regular contributions to the 401k, the latter was employees' preference. 3. Be honest. Eighty-six percent of employees said they wanted to work for a supervisor who focused on ethics and values rather than one who focuses on the bottom line. Employees are tired of hearing about the Enrons of the world. 4. Allow flexibility. Fifty-two percent of employees desire a job that won't interfere with their personal life. They don't mind working hard and finishing the job, but they want and need time to take care of personal affairs. Forty-four percent indicated they would like to work from home if they needed to. 5. Show some loyalty. One of the qualities that employees have expressed in previous Randstad surveys is a strong loyalty to their companies. Seventy percent of employees indicated they are loyal. They wanted that sense of loyalty to be returned. Sixty-nine percent of employees said job security would keep them working for their present employers. For more: Randstad North America, 2015 S. Park Place, Atlanta, GA 30339; (770) 937-7000; fax (770) 937-7100; www.us.randstad.com. Send this article to a friend Enter your e-mail address: Enter your friend's e-mail address: Click the image below to send: © 2004 Branch-Smith Publishing