If you don’t have a retention strategy the Retention Solutions Network can help!
Retention solutions for a more supported, productive and engaged workforce
The Retention Solutions Network at West Michigan Works! offers customized, timely, in-person support and training to keep your employees on the job and your business thriving.
Congratulations to Shelondrea and Hackley Community Care!
Hackley Community Care and its staff member Shelondrea Johnson were this year’s Michigan Works! Impact Award winners. Hackley showed dedication to retaining a talented workforce while ensuring team members can remain focused on delivering quality healthcare services. An example of this collaboration was through Shelondrea Johnson’s journey as they supported her through a time of extraordinary resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
Learn more about Shelondrea’s story by watching her video below!
We have the infrastructure and resources to serve employers efficiently and effectively
Success coach: your retention expert
The Retention Solutions Network model addresses the root causes of low employee retention; the barriers that come with working and living in poverty and the need for technical and workplace skills so that employees can not only stay employed, but thrive. Our success coaches are fully trained MiBridges navigators and career coaches. They know their community and its resources. They can connect your employees with the support and training they need, when they need it.
More resources = an affordable retention solution
West Michigan Works! has greater access to state and federal funding than many of its competitors. This means reduced rates and incentives for employers. With 30+ years of successful grant management, we are poised and qualified to apply for and administer funds to help you support and retain your workforce.
Minimized work disruptions and decreased absenteeism.
Increased employee retention and engagement.
Insightful data on impact, ROI and the challenges your workers face.
A network of member employers to share best practices.
Benefits for Employees
A success coach on-site or off-site confidential assistance including:
Facilitated, fast-tracked connections to community resources addressing life issues affecting work performance, like housing and transportation.
Personalized financial planning and coaching.
Help identifying career advancement and training opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will employees meet with the success coach during their shift?
No, the Success Coach will never ask an employee to meet during a time when the employee is scheduled to be working. The Success Coach can meet with employees, before or after a shift, on-site at their workplace or at a Michigan Works! Service Center. The Success Coach is flexible and can accommodate all shifts.
What kind of reporting will I receive to track employee engagement?
With the Retention Solutions Network, you will receive monthly employee utilization reports. This report will detail the types of barriers that your employees are facing, the amount of time employees are spending with the Success Coach and an example or a story will be shared.
How does the Retention Solutions Network differ from an EAP?
EAPs are designed and staffed to handle acute issues on a short term basis, often by referring the employee to outside resources. Likely, a given EAP is contracted by many, many employers to work with their employees, often at the job jeopardy stage, and may not be available to follow-up on the referrals provided. The Retention Solutions Network, on the other hand, works with a few specific employers and customizes services to meet the needs of their employees. Our services are designed to be high-touch and long term – we address the issue at hand and then work with the employee to align resources and build assets so that the issue does not repeat.
What are the most important employer’s responsibilities in relation to the Retention Solutions Network?
Once the employer member has signed an memorandum of understanding, the responsibilities for the employer are to participate in bi-monthly member meetings, provide reporting as needed to measure employee retention and adhere to the Employer Best Practices for maximum outreach and benefit.
What kind of information does an employer need to share with the Retention Solutions Network?
It is important for the Success Coach to understand employer benefits, such as health insurance, vision and dental policies and other benefits offered to employees. An understanding of shift times, leadership structure, orientation process and hiring requirements is also help to best serve employees.
How long will an employee receive services from the success coach?
There is no time limit for services, the Success Coach will serve an employee for as long as it takes to get them back on track, as long as the employee remains employed by any member company.
Employee Success Stories
The following stories are examples of how the Retention Solutions Network can help employees deal with issues that might otherwise affect attendance and productivity.
It makes me feel valued that my employer cares enough about staff to bring a success coach in.
An employee was referred to the RSN by the Human Resource department. The employee was experiencing recurring debt for medical expenses for his spouse and child.
The success coach recommended an application for DHHS Services to cover medical expenses for his child and assisted the employee with the application and verification process; his child is now qualified for medical services from the state. The success coach also worked with the employee on a budget plan to pay off outstanding medical bills. Community Ventures funding was used to pay the employee’s overdue auto insurance, allowing the employee to completely pay off the medical debt.
The employee states, “It makes me feel valued that my employer cares enough about staff to bring a success coach in.”
A plan to keep employee safe and in his home
An employee met with the RSN Success Coach because he was having issues in the home with a family member. After discussing the situation, the Coach and the employee developed a plan to keep him safe while he was in the process of temporarily moving.
The Success Coach made referrals to agencies that specialized in housing and legal services and the employee was able to reach an amicable agreement to retain possession of the home and move back to the residence. The employee and Coach also developed a budgeting plan so the client would be able to maintain his personal finances.
Never miss a mortgage payment again
An employee met with the RSN Success Coach seeking assistance with outstanding mortgage payments. The employee was three months behind on his mortgage due to outstanding medical debt and living expenses. The Success Coach referred the employee to the Step Forward Michigan Program, which pays off arrearage. The Success Coach assisted the employee with his application to Step Forward Michigan and referred him to PNC for financial budgeting/counseling to set a budget to ensure he does not fall behind on his mortgage in the future.
Referred by co-workers to help ease financial strain
An employee was referred to the RSN by two of his co-workers. The employee and his spouse have custody of their toddler grandchild, which was straining already tight finances.
The Success Coach utilized Community Ventures funding to eliminate identified transportation barriers (insuring, registering and repairing his vehicle). Currently the vehicle is safe to drive to and from work and to transport his grandchild to appointments. Additionally, the employee did not complete a tax return for 2017/2018. To eliminate this barrier the Success Coach made a referral for tax preparation to North Kent Connect. Another referral was made to DHHS via State Emergency Relief (SER) using Navigator Partner (MI Bridges) to replace a broken furnace in the employee’s home. The employee’s taxes are now complete and a furnace replacement request is in process.
Network Members
Join the network of Retention Solutions members
As the Retention Solutions Network grows, employer members will have opportunities to connect, collaborate and share best practices. Common member needs will set the direction of the network.
The following employers are current members of the Retention Solutions Network:
Success Coaches
Cara Achterhof
Supports Hackley Community Care, Haworth, Laurels of Hudsonville, Light Corp, Pliant Plastics, and Shape Corp
