My replies to questions on HRGyan , an egroup I moderate: On Retention Strategies :

I am a little sceptical always of these so-called "strategies" for
things like attraction and retention of people to an organization.

I believe that the best employers are firms that build processes and
policies around people and not vice versa. These are practices that
view the people who work not as a faceless nameless mass of "Human
Resources" but as live, real people who have live real issues.

And whether senior or junior management, blue or white collar, the
best way to retain your employees is to respect them and care for
them. It is when HR people try to be 'extra smart' and manipulative
that people see through it and it breeds cynicism of the HR
function. Why, there are companies where the HR function has
dispensed with its glorified name and calls itself simply
the "people department"...maybe just a cosmetic change ...but can go
a long way to remove mistrust and change mindsets on both sides.

My friends who have stuck to their companies in the FMCG sector tell
me its because they feel valued there, and the organization has gone
out of its way to accomodate their desires for growth and learning.
They also accomodate needs for transfers easily and my friends have
also been open enough to look at cross functional moves when the
company has given them an option.

Of course there have been people who have left these firms, and yet
even the disengagement process has not left them with a bitter taste
in the mouth.

The underlying theme for a great relationship between any employee
and employer ? Mutual respect and acknowledgment of the tacit
psychological contract .

Hope this helps :-)

Regards,
Gautam