WHITE PAPER
The Employee Hierarchy of Needs
What’s inside?
Employee retention has never been a more critical problem for companies that it is today. The Employee Hierarchy of Needs white paper examines the root cause of this problem – including the disconnect between what employees want and what managers are doing.
- Review of some of the factors contributing to the challenge of employee loyalty that is driving down employee retention.
- Examining the root cause of the problem and the disconnect between what employees need and what managers are doing.
- The Whistle Employee Hierarchy of Needs model as a framework to understand employee needs and develop effective solutions.
- Specific suggestions for each level of the Employee Hierarchy of Needs model that companies can implement to improve business outcomes like lowering turnover.
The Whistle Employee Hierarchy of Needs Model
The Whistle Employee Hierarchy of Needs provides a roadmap of insights into the full range of employee needs. Below, we lay out this hierarchy by describing the core needs and how they build on one another. We briefly discuss the consequences to employees and businesses of meeting vs not meeting them and offer strategies for how to better meet each level of need.
The Whistle Employee Hierarchy of Needs, in order from most foundational to highest order, are:
- Safety
Refers to both physical and psychological protection from harm.Am I working in a place that will keep me safe? - Expectations and Basic Capabilities
A clear understanding of what is expected and the skills to be successful in that role. Do I know what is expected of me, and do I have the tools to succeed? - Growth and Mastery
Refers to employees’ opportunities to develop professionally and to experience the satisfaction that comes with continuous growth. Am I offered opportunities to continue a life-long learning path, improving my value and enjoying a meaningful career progression? - Feeling Valued
Employees feel that their skills and contributions are noticed and appreciated by those around them. Does my manager and my organization appreciate and care about me? - Belonging
Employees feel a sense of connection to other people within the organization, and ideally to the organization as a whole. Do I feel strongly connected to my colleagues and my organization? - Purpose and Meaning
Employees are deeply aligned to the purpose and mission of the organization. Is the purpose and mission of the organization meaningful to me?
Start by identifying where to focus
The Whistle Employee Loyalty Index is a simple 10 question survey that can be launched in minutes and will give you clarity on what specific interventions are needed for each area of your company to improve retention.
Contact us to learn more about the Whistle Employee Hierarchy Model and how we can improve employee loyalty for your organization.
