Carolyn Hyams is the Asia Pacific Marketing Strategy Manager at Aquent,
the leading global staffing firm specialising in marketing,
communications and creative talent. After 6 years of working full-time
with Aquent, Carolyn is now a proud mother of possibly the most
beautiful child ever born and enjoys the flexible work practices that
Aquent offers.

You are on a certain salary package, but your company’s competitor can offer you the same money. Why stay where you are if it’s not just about money?

What is it about? What is your company offering you that compels you to stay and be loyal to them? Is it the promise of developing your career and providing you the training and experience to get there? Do they give you flexibility in your working hours or where you work? Are they providing an environment for you to achieve a better balance between working really hard and actually having a life? i.e. getting home in time to bath your little one or maybe just being able to fit in gym before dinner?

The last Aquent Orange Book survey of the marketing, communications and creative industry (2006/2007), reported that the top 10 staff retention strategies used by companies that reported staff turnover rates under 10% (at a time when turnover was increasing significantly were:

1. Career development
2. Internal company training
3. Discretionary bonus
4. Local training/education
5. Mobile phone
6. Mileage reimbursement
7. Additional leave
8. Gifts
9. Magazine subscriptions
10. Mentoring Programme

Are these hiring managers right? Or not?

So, what makes you stay?

By the way, the 2008/2009 Aquent Orange Book will be released in August, so watch this space. It will be interesting to see how these strategies may differ from previous years.

I can certainly reveal that the list has changed significantly. For example, not only does “flexible work practices” make it into the top 10, it is the number one strategy right across the States in Australia.

How things have changed!