business management
22
MICA MESSENGER
It may seem difficult, but it is possible. 
Build a culture of mutual respect, inside 
and out. Your customers will trust you 
because your people trust you.
Then the question becomes: how do 
you build that trust? The companies 
that are solving the puzzle that is 
employee retention aren’t doing it with 
signing bonuses alone, or even with 
raises. They’re doing it by building 
cultures grounded in respect.
What makes it a good place to work? 
It’s so much more than the paycheck. It’s 
the morning huddle where every voice 
is heard. It’s the dispatcher who knows 
everyone’s kid’s name. It’s the owner 
who’s happy to jump in on a call when 
the tech needs backup — not because 
they have to, but because they want to 
show what support looks like.
And yes, money matters. But, there are 
plenty of tradespeople who walked 
away from higher pay to work for 
someone who treated them like a 
person, not a number.
It’s easy to assume that retention 
requires some grand strategy. But often, 
it comes down to the small things:
•	 Saying thank you at the end of a 
long week. It may seem small, but a 
little bit of appreciation goes a long 
way.
•	 Promoting from within. Reward the 
people who have been with you 
from the beginning. They know 
your business better than you might 
think.
•	 Investing in training — not just for 
code compliance, but for career 
development. When your employees 
feel that you’re investing in them, 
they’ll want to invest more in you, 
too.
•	 Recognizing burnout. Listen when 
someone says they’re overwhelmed, 
and be ready to support them. 
Picking someone up when they’re 
down isn’t something that they’re 
soon to forget!
Creating a workplace where your 
workers feel seen, supported and 
respected is the key to retaining 
the talent that keeps your company 
running smoothly.
Stay vigilant for 
any changes 
in employees’ 
behavior, 
appearance, or 
hygiene as potential 
indicators of 
substance abuse.
Promoting from within. Reward 
the people who have been with 
you from the beginning. They 
know your business better than 
you might think.
Investing in training — not just for code 
compliance, but for career development. 

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