Quad Graphics Takes the Lead on Employee Retention

Quad Graphics is leading the way with strategies for attracting, retaining, and engaging employees. At seminars in the SkillsUSA Booth (570) on Monday, it shared how it does it.

Melissa Anderson, Global Talent Management and Talent Development Lead for Quad, shared statistics that only 30% of employees are satisfied with their future career opportunities at their organizations, leading to unwanted (and sometimes unnecessary) turnover.

“We want to keep those good employees,” she told the audience. “So what can we do about it?”

To combat these statistics, Quad has set up a variety of programs to nurture employees and help them stay engaged with and feel valued by the company. New hires, for example, go through a 90-day onboarding program where they are mentored and nurtured to help them feel comfortable and establish relationships on the job.

“Employees are giving us feedback that this program is really helping them,” said Anderson.

Anderson also shared how, as part of a larger organizational development program, Quad is being more proactive about succession planning, engaging its high potential hires, and focusing on leadership and development at all levels.

Other steps include cross training, sharing talent across normally divided business lines, and taking a more proactive approach to performance management. “We are not just engaging someone once a year, but providing ongoing feedback, regular meetings, and keeping in touch with what employees want and what will keep them here,” concludes Anderson. “We will continue to monitor and measuring these and other efforts down the road to see how that is affecting our retention rates.”