A LinkedIn post declared that employees don't need fancy offices, forced fun, or free food to stay at their jobs, but instead, they need great leadership, fair pay, and recognition. Kim Keane agrees with parts of it, pushes back on others, and argues that all of it misses the bigger picture: if the environment isn't addressed first, none of these solutions will stick.
Key Takeaways:
Perks like free food and team outings aren't cynical, they're safe, easy, and well-intentioned, but they don't address what's actually driving people out the door.
"Great leadership" and "fair pay" are broad, subjective, and often constrained by systems and structures outside any one person's control.
Recognition matters most when it's specific and demonstrates that someone was actually paying attention.
Retention isn't just the organization's responsibility, adults also have to find ways to meet some of their own needs for appreciation and connection.
Without addressing the environment, even the best retention strategies will fall short.
Connect with Kim: 🔗 LinkedIn | Substack: Kim Keane Consulting