Retention

1. Get flexible. While telecommuting and flexible-scheduling options were once offered only by the most progressive companies, they are increasingly more common as more organizations acknowledge the work-life balance needs of their employees.

2. Offer training. IT workers are particularly appreciative of professional development opportunities because the rapid evolution of technology mandates that they keep their skills sharp in order to position themselves for promotions and advancement.

3. Let them explore. Efforts to ensure employees remain engaged in their work can extend beyond the traditional realm of IT: Members of your department may welcome the chance to join cross-departmental teams that focus on company-wide initiatives, such as improving employee communications or exploring the best way to reach new customer groups.

4. Build a true team. Promote activities that build rapport among staff members. Employees who have friends at work—and have positive interactions with their managers and co-workers—are typically more satisfied.

5. Tackle burnout. Promoting realistic workloads, encouraging employees to ask for help and addressing morale issues immediately can help prevent employees from feeling stressed and unhappy.

Katherine Spencer Lee is executive director of Robert Half Technology, an IT staffing firm.

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