Chanukya RajagopalaDirector - IT Strategy - R & D| iPOCA Private LtdUnited Kingdom
When you spend time and cost on training and nurturing talent, and the employee leaves the organisation, it results in brain drain. There is no rule in the book that can really stop one from leaving the company after receiveing training, coaching etc. Recently a employee left an organisation after a major skills upgrade. The recruiting company agreed to pay back the trianing cost to the company the employee left, thus releasing the employee from the obligation of staying a certain period after training. Though the company received the costs for training, it lost an employee who was factored into many projects downstream.
Most of you have encountered such situations.
How have you dealth with them?
How have to filled the talent gap?
Unless you recruit a champion who can hit the ground running, how have to shored up the time lost for new starter to gain speed?
If you have head-hunted talent and recruited, have you considered that it could happen to you? What would your planning be if it did happen? Saving Changes...
We have to undertake an agreement for 12-18 months depending on the training type & cost. During this time one cannot leave (medical reason being an exception) or join another company. There is some penalty like - reliving letter is not issued, training cost plus percentage of remuneration for certain period has to be surrendered, marked as a negative candidate in company & recruiter database, etc.
Beyond training, it is very difficult to stop any one from leaving. We can only force till the time notice period is over. This is expected, so plan and have a backup resource. That's the only option.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
People leaving companies even after being trained is very common even if there are agreements in place, if they are forced to atay, the might not be as productive as well but in all cases you should reinforce the agreement of how many months one should stay if being trained for X Field.
On the other hand, never put all your eggs in on basket which means you have to ensure you have immediate repalcement for sensitive roles, thats the smart things to do.
...
1 reply by Chanukya Rajagopala
Jan 16, 2017 7:15 AM
Chanukya Rajagopala
...
Rami, Thanks for your response.
I have learnt this the hard way,, not to prepare for a key staff leaving business suddenly. Most times, its the most unexpected member who leaves you. I now have a natural replacement ready to take over, when anyone leaves a role. Sometimes I do get caught out,but the other preparations I have put in place, i.e, documentation, a log of work carried out by each employee ( including myself), a open relationship with my staff, where they can discuss their plans of leaving and give me enough time to prepare, etc etc are a few contingency plans I have.
It is a complex problem, if you don't give training employ they leave.
I have seen solution similar to the one describe by Anupam, that is to me the right approch.
The other thing is to make the working condition so they are happy and don't what to leave,
...
1 reply by Chanukya Rajagopala
Jan 16, 2017 7:18 AM
Chanukya Rajagopala
...
Vincent,
Thanks for your viewpoints. It is indeed a complex situation.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
For me (and the organizations where I worked on that assign to me to solve this problems) the solution is simple. And because is simple is hard to implement. The solution is to create a knowledge management environment. Today, to create that environment is quit easy than years ago because the amount of social net software outside there and because people is using that. Take into account that knowledge management has become a buzzword in the last years so you have to go to the basement years ago.
...
1 reply by Chanukya Rajagopala
Jan 16, 2017 7:19 AM
Chanukya Rajagopala
...
Sergio,
Thanks for taking time to reply.
Will dwell on your suggested solution.
Regards
Chanu
Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
^ Agree with Sergio. Knowledge Management is crucial for separating the knowledge from the individual - tacit to explicit. Its the old 'Hit by a bus tomorrow' we've all heard before.
Additionally, by having a structured KM system/team/process in place, the time to competency (TTC) will also decrease, saving the organization time and money in training. The whole cycle becomes more self-maintained, and shorter.
...
1 reply by Chanukya Rajagopala
Jan 16, 2017 7:22 AM
Chanukya Rajagopala
...
After a few "Hits", we have a back up plan if a employee leaves. The success of the situation also depends on how the succession is handled and how the successor can pick up where the last employee left and run with it. Its easy to groom a junior for each role so, should such instances occur a junior can ease into that role, but once a junior thinks he/she is fit for the role, then, unless they see a potential growth, they could leave to other companies that can offer an improved role. Every plan made has a failure element. your suggestion of keeping the role and individual as seperate entities may work to a greater degree.
People move from one company to another, that is inevitable, whether for economic or intellectual motivation.
The implementation clauses in the contract or agreement, such as Anupam mentioned can help. Also as Sergio and Andrew mentioned, the Knowledge management will be key.
But I think an important part that we should analyze is, why do they leave? Am I not motivating team members enough? Is the paycheck low compared with a similar role in another company?
I worked in an organization that they did every 3 months, surveys to all employees in order to check their motivation grade and happiness in the company. Also, they take into account some employees notes and something simple like "more microwaves in the break room" reduced the brain drain. Ah! and when a team member left, they should fill a form without personal questions with why he/she decided to do it.
...
1 reply by Chanukya Rajagopala
Jan 16, 2017 7:26 AM
Chanukya Rajagopala
...
Maria,
Thanks for your reply and comments on other responses. That is quite useful.
The motivations to leave from a company are numerous, but the wage packet is the most important one. On some roles, my employees receive a higher than industry standard wage. But there are so many perks and add-ons like number of days for annual paid leave etc sometimes cause people to leave. I dont think any company can fix any specific criteria to prevent brain drain. The most successful company is the one that has the least brain drain.
Thanks once again
Regards
Chanu
Saving Changes...
Chanukya RajagopalaDirector - IT Strategy - R & D| iPOCA Private LtdUnited Kingdom
Jan 08, 2017 11:01 PM
Replying to Anupam
...
We have to undertake an agreement for 12-18 months depending on the training type & cost. During this time one cannot leave (medical reason being an exception) or join another company. There is some penalty like - reliving letter is not issued, training cost plus percentage of remuneration for certain period has to be surrendered, marked as a negative candidate in company & recruiter database, etc.
Beyond training, it is very difficult to stop any one from leaving. We can only force till the time notice period is over. This is expected, so plan and have a backup resource. That's the only option.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Anupam.
Regards
Chanu Saving Changes...
Chanukya RajagopalaDirector - IT Strategy - R & D| iPOCA Private LtdUnited Kingdom
Jan 08, 2017 11:24 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
...
People leaving companies even after being trained is very common even if there are agreements in place, if they are forced to atay, the might not be as productive as well but in all cases you should reinforce the agreement of how many months one should stay if being trained for X Field.
On the other hand, never put all your eggs in on basket which means you have to ensure you have immediate repalcement for sensitive roles, thats the smart things to do.
Rami, Thanks for your response.
I have learnt this the hard way,, not to prepare for a key staff leaving business suddenly. Most times, its the most unexpected member who leaves you. I now have a natural replacement ready to take over, when anyone leaves a role. Sometimes I do get caught out,but the other preparations I have put in place, i.e, documentation, a log of work carried out by each employee ( including myself), a open relationship with my staff, where they can discuss their plans of leaving and give me enough time to prepare, etc etc are a few contingency plans I have.
Nevertheless its never sufficient.
Thanks once again. Regards Chanu
...
1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Jan 16, 2017 12:54 PM
Rami Kaibni
...
This is a good approach Chanu but as you said, it might not be sufficient sometimes so you have to treat it as a case by case and mitigate the situation.
Saving Changes...
Chanukya RajagopalaDirector - IT Strategy - R & D| iPOCA Private LtdUnited Kingdom
Jan 08, 2017 11:28 PM
Replying to Vincent Guerard
...
It is a complex problem, if you don't give training employ they leave.
I have seen solution similar to the one describe by Anupam, that is to me the right approch.
The other thing is to make the working condition so they are happy and don't what to leave,
Vincent,
Thanks for your viewpoints. It is indeed a complex situation. Saving Changes...
Chanukya RajagopalaDirector - IT Strategy - R & D| iPOCA Private LtdUnited Kingdom
Jan 09, 2017 6:04 AM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
...
For me (and the organizations where I worked on that assign to me to solve this problems) the solution is simple. And because is simple is hard to implement. The solution is to create a knowledge management environment. Today, to create that environment is quit easy than years ago because the amount of social net software outside there and because people is using that. Take into account that knowledge management has become a buzzword in the last years so you have to go to the basement years ago.
Sergio,
Thanks for taking time to reply.
Will dwell on your suggested solution.
Regards
Chanu
...
1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Jan 16, 2017 3:46 PM
Sergio Luis Conte
...
You are welcome. This type of forums give me the opportunity to learn and to improve myself so thank you very much to you for starting the debate.
Community Champion
