Today's workplace is

different, diverse, and constantly changing.

The typical

employer/employee relationship of old has been turned

upside down. Workers are living in a growing economy and

have almost limitless job opportunities.

This combination of factors

has created an environment where the business needs its

employees more than the employees need the business.

According to Max Messmer,

chairman and CEO, Robert Half International. "For a

growing number of workers, corporate culture is the key

determinant in their choice to stay with an organization

long term."

To keep employees satisfied

today, it takes an entirely different approach than it

did just a few years ago. Indeed, one-third of the

executives surveyed by Robert Half International Inc.

have changed their opinions and now say the work

environment is the most critical factor in keeping an

employee satisfied in today's business world.

In 1993, only 9 percent

said that the work environment was an important factor in

keeping employees satisfied.

Other critical factors

include the importance of praise and recognition,and

compensationeach cited by 28 percent of those surveyed.

Six years ago, praise and recognition was at the top of

the list, cited by 47 percent of those surveyed.

Other significant changes

include concern over promotions. Only 4 percent of

executives say that promotions are a big factor in

keeping employees satisfied today, compared with 26

percent who said that in 1993.

Furthermore, the importance

of compensation and benefits has risen to 28 percent from

just 7 percent in the 1993 survey.

The underlying thread is

management must realize if its employees are

dissatisfied, they can easily find employment elsewhere.

The managers and businesses that create a positive work

environment will be the winners of tomorrow's workplace.

Management's new challenge

is to create a work environment that attracts, keeps, and

motivates its workforce.

The responsibility lies

with managers and supervisors at all levels of the

organization. Businesses must step outside their

traditional roles and comfort zones to look at new ways

of working.

They have to create a work

environment where people enjoy what they do, feel like

they have a purpose, have pride in what they do, and can

reach their potential.

TD Industries in Dallas,

Tex., has a unique way of making its employees feel

valued and involved. One wall in the company has the

photographs of all employees who have been with the

company more than five years.

Maybe that's why TD

Industries was listed last year by Fortune magazine as

one of the Top 100 Best Companies. To help create a more

positive work environment follow my Hold, Keep, Seek and

Review strategy.

Hold managers accountable.

Managers and supervisors have the biggest impact on the

morale and motivation of workers.

They are the ones who can

create or defeat the work environment. Therefore, they

should be properly selected, trained and held accountable

for results, which includes retention, motivation and the

other usual aspects of management.

Keep people informed.

Mushrooms grow in the dark. Similarly, a business that

keeps its employees in the dark is one that suffers from

low morale and high turnover. We live in a information

rich society with the Internet, E-mail, CNN, cable,

satellite TV pumping a steady stream of information 24

hours a day.

People today want to know

what's going on. Businesses must communicate at least 10

times better than in the past. Good communication

eliminates myths, rumors and bad attitudes.

Seek employee's input and

advice. When managers ask their employees for their

input, the results are usually positive.

A good example is Guardian

Industries, an 800-person glass plant in Indiana. They

decided to start listening to their employees and find a

better way of deciding how to staff the shifts.

The employees decided that

instead of working rotating shifts between day and

evening, they would rather work permanent 12-hour shifts.

The result-turnover fell by 50 percent.

Review and reinforce

benefit plans. I am amazed to see that many employees

have forgotten about or not

aware of their benefits. A wise company is one

that periodically reviews

and reminds employees of their benefits. This

process could help prevent

the "grass is greener on the other side"

effect. Insure your

benefits are up-to-date and consider how lifestyle

changes impact on your

workforce. Flextime is one of the most popular

benefits today's workforce

is looking for.

Free by e-mail/fax: If you

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770-760- 0581/[email protected] .Gregory P. Smith speaks at

conferences, leads seminars and helps organizations solve

problems. He leads an organization called Chart Your

Course International located in Conyers, Georgia. Phone

him at (770)860-9464 or send an email at [email protected] . More information and articles are

available at www.chartcourse.com .