Organizations most commonly discover an employee’s reason for leaving when they conduct an exit interview with a departing employee. But being proactive in creating a well administered stay interview process helps employers improve workplace culture, increase employee engagement, and retain employees who might otherwise be tempted to leave the organization (image by Shutterstock).
Organizations most commonly discover an employee’s reason for leaving when they conduct an exit interview with a departing employee. Done well, the exit interview process allows the employer to glean invaluable information about how to improve workplace culture and increase employee engagement for their remaining workers. However, the information gained in this manner comes too late to retain the departing employee, which can be too high of a cost to the employer organization. But what if there was a way to get that information without losing the employee?
There’s good news for employers on this front. Employers can conduct “stay interviews,” the perfect tool for identifying and intervening to keep potential problems from becoming major ones that result in valued employees walking out the door.
In a stay interview, a supervisor sits down with their direct report for an in-person, one-on-one conversation about what the employee values about his or her job and what could be improved. While employee satisfaction surveys can be of great value, a stay interview adds the dimension of two-way conversation, along with an opportunity to ask follow-up questions about particular points, ultimately helping to create avenues of open communication and build trust, demonstrating to employees that their thoughts and opinions are valued.
Making a consistent, sustained effort to gain insights from employees allows the employer to nip problems in the bud before they lead to significant turnover. Employees have a lot of great ideas, but they may not have the opportunity to pass them along, or even think to do so. The stay interview offers a built-in way to solicit ideas and potentially incorporate them into the organization’s culture. This way, leaders have much more than their own assumptions or workplace gossip to rely on in making decisions that impact employees. This process leads to better organizational retention, as well as increased motivation, commitment, and productivity.
A one-on-one setting is vital to the success of a stay interview; conducting say interviews with small groups of direct reports will make employees less comfortable about sharing honest feedback, compromising the process. A stay interview should serve as a purposeful and deliberate stand-alone meeting and should never be part of an annual performance review meeting. Nor should it be sandwiched in with another type of meeting.
Invite an employee to a stay interview by explaining its purpose: e.g., “We value you as an employee. We would like to gain your insights about what we are doing well as an organization and how we can do better.” Explain that the process is a key part of company culture. Doing this communicates to the employee that they are valued, and their feedback is welcomed, increasing the likelihood they will share both positive and constructive feedback about the organization or department.
For a new hire, the first stay interview should occur at about six months of employment and annually after that. In essence, the process serves as the employee’s “performance review” of their employer organization. However, building some flexibility into the process is important, so that the employer can conduct a stay interview if an employee seems disengaged. Fostering open dialog can make all the difference in whether valuable employees decide to stay with an organization.
While some employers only interview their best performers – employees who would be the most difficult to replace if they left – we believe the best practice is to include all employees in your stay interview process. By doing so, you can positively impact the attitudes, engagement, and performance of all employees, even those who are less engaged. Employees who believe an employer cares about their opinions are far more likely to take responsibility for an organization’s success, be proactive in approaching a supervisor with a concern, and ultimately stay longer.
It’s best not to provide the employee with the questions ahead of time; doing so will lead to scripted answers. Ask meaningful questions, starting with questions that break the ice. The list below offers some basic questions, but the best stay interview incorporates flexibility; so be sure to follow up on responses that aren’t clear and invite employees to provide more detail or illustrate their comments with specific examples.
It’s not enough to ask good questions during a stay interview; an organization must also commit to using employee feedback to improve the employee experience and the organization. Employees who believe that their feedback is going into a void of inaction will lose trust and stop offering candid and useful feedback, making the process a sham. Organizations that commit to investing time and energy into an effective stay interview process will be the most successful in engaging employees and retaining top performers.
With 20 years’ experience working in HR, OMNI Senior Consultant Keli Tuschman views herself as a businessperson, as well as an HR professional. Her background in accounting has also been a plus for her understanding of the business environment that HR supports. Keli has worked in the energy sector for Koch Industries and Merrill Lynch, in Higher Ed and K-12 education, and has served on several non-profit boards. She is a strategic partner who can provide services in all areas of human resources to support your business needs. Keli and her husband have two high school age children and love all that the Kansas City area has to offer families.
Ann Cripe is a strategic business partner and HR leader across multiple disciplines of human resources. With a passion for building strong partnerships with her clients, she enjoys understanding the business and providing solutions in the areas of employee relations, compliance, leadership development, talent management, recruiting, training, and compensation. She has over 25 years of human resources experience in a variety of industries and a Bachelors’ degree in Psychology, with minors in Management and English, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Jennifer Gross-Statler, Marketing & Communications Manager, comes to us with over 20 years’ experience as a nonprofit professional. Her background includes four years as Executive Director of a Connecticut nonprofit with a state mandate to evaluate state-funded mental health programs, assess strengths and unmet needs, and make recommendations for improvements. She brings valuable expertise to OMNI in community and media relations, marketing and branding, project management, and strategic planning. Jennifer is a graduate of The College of William & Mary.
MOLLY ADAMS
Operations Coordinator
Molly joined OMNI in 2020, and previously held the role of Human Resource Specialist for nearly three years. providing a wealth of support to the Outsourcing Team and to OMNI’s Outsourcing and Membership clients. In her new role, Molly will serve as the internal operations hub for OMNI. Her role as Membership Concierge will continue, and Membership clients can expect the same top-notch service Molly has always delivered in providing timely responses to requests for information, tools, and resources. In her spare time, Molly enjoys spending time with friends, family, husband and two young children, and enjoying all things Kansas City.
ANDREA PRESTON
Human Resource Specialist
Andrea Preston comes to her role at OMNI with nine years of experience in the tourism and recreation industry, most recently as Assistant General Manager at Headwaters Lodge & Cabins in Moran, WY, where she supervised and trained nine managers and oversaw 120 employees. She held previous manager roles at Grand Teton Lodge Company in Moran, WY; Lake Powell Resorts & Marina in Bullfrog, UT; and Club Wyndham Emerald Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, FL. Over the years, Andrea has garnered expertise in hiring, training, payroll, and a variety of HR issues, making her a perfect fit for working with clients at OMNI. In her spare time, Andrea likes to paint, explore the outdoors, and spend time with her family.
RACHEL WATERS
Search Coordinator
Rachel provides recruitment support to both our clients and the members of the Executive Search team. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management from Fort Hays State University. Prior to joining OMNI, she spent three years as a full-cycle recruiter for Yellow Corporation. In her spare time, she loves going to the dog park with her two dogs, hanging out with friends, and spending time with her nieces and nephew.
HOLLYN RIOS, SPHR
Outsourcing Manager
As an experienced HR leader, Hollyn is passionate about resolving misconceptions about HR through effective employee relations and training practices to retain employees and protect employers. Prior to joining OMNI, Hollyn held the role of Director of Talent Acquisition at Examinetics, where she specialized in strategic human resource planning and employee benefits design. As Human Resources Manager/HR Consultant at Lever1, she served as internal HR manager and worked with clients in all 50 states, specializing in learning and development, and customized training design. Hollyn has also held HR leadership roles with MyWorkChoice and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. In her spare time, Hollyn enjoys attending gymnastics, swimming, and track events for her two daughters and vacationing outdoors with friends and family.
KJ’s past roles include Director of Human Resources at Woodside, where she was the first to serve in such a role. While at Woodside, she implemented a new payroll system and was instrumental in streamlining operations and efficiencies through the development of new policies and procedures. She also optimized hiring and onboarding functions, restructured the performance review process, and assisted in staring up a new property management company. KJ has a long history of working with payroll and benefits and has held leadership positions at Hyvee, Home Depot, and Westar Foods. She is the proud mother of three adult children and grandmother of three young grandsons.
TOM NAGEL, SPHR/SHRM-SCP
Senior Consultant
With 16 years of experience in human resources, Tom excels at ensuring that the HR function serves as a true partner. His commitment to building lasting, credible relationships will ensure that he is a valued resource and trusted advisor to OMNI client leaders. Prior to joining OMNI, Tom served as Senior Human Resources Leader at Polsinelli. He has also held HR leadership roles at Terracon and DST Systems. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management at Southern Illinois University. Tom is on the Board of Directors for the KC Care Health Center and has volunteered for Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care and AIDS Service Foundation of Kansas City. In his spare time, Tom enjoys traveling, reading, and trying out new restaurants with friends.
JONNA BRANDEL
HR Consultant
Jonna comes to OMNI with 10 years of human resources experience and 15 years of risk management consulting experience. As an HR Consultant, she will provide strategic support to clients in recruiting, workplace safety, compensation and benefits, employee relations, and performance management. Prior to joining OMNI, Jonna was Partner and Senior Director of Client Services for The Brandel Group, a boutique consultancy specializing in providing independent, objective reviews of organizational and risk management challenges and needs. Other previous roles include Business Development and Project Manager at The Lion Partnership, as well as Insurance Analyst and Regional Director at Expense Reduction Analysts.
LAUREN TRACY
Recruitment Operations Manager
As OMNI’s Recruitment Operations Manager, Lauren serves as the operational hub for OMNI’s Talent Acquisition Team, including coordination of proposal development and administration; project tracking, monitoring, and reporting; and general oversight of departmental systems, processes, and quality control. Lauren comes to OMNI from Payne & Jones, Chartered, where she served as a Legal Assistant for almost seven years, and Front Desk Receptionist for just over a year. Her comprehensive experience in client relations and project management make her an excellent fit for her new role. When she is not at work, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and two young daughters.
Karen serves as Senior Consultant to select outsourcing clients, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience in HR leadership. Karen provides HR guidance, coaching, and counseling for her clients, with an emphasis on start-ups and fast growth companies. Her background includes 13 years as Executive Director, HR Services, at Applebee’s International and Director of Training & Organizational Development at Gentiva Health Services. Karen attended the Executive Leadership Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. In addition to her talents in HR, she is passionate about helping women achieve their full potential and has expertise in strategic business meetings and conferences, serving as President & CEO of her event management company.
ROGER DUSING, PHD
Senior Consultant & Higher Education Practice Leader
Roger comes to OMNI from Park University, where he served as Chief Human Resource Officer for eleven years. With over 40 years of HR experience, including 30 years in C-suite level roles, he looks forward to reflecting his passion for higher education in his work to bring affordable, high-quality HR services to small- to medium-sized colleges and universities.
Roger holds a PhD in Business Management, with a concentration in Human Resources from Northcentral University, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a BS in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University. He also authored the book “I’m Fired?!? A Business Fable About the Challenges of Losing One Job and Finding Another.”
Roger enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, and four grandchildren. He and his wife are addicted to pickleball.
Debi joins the OMNI team with over twelve years of prior Human Resource experience in benefits, payroll, and associate relations. In her role at OMNI, she serves clients and their employees with all payroll and benefits related inquiries. Previously, Debi worked at the Kansas City Zoo in the Finance and Human Resources departments. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, watching movies, doing crafts and spending time outdoors – especially at her favorite place, Powell Gardens.
TERESA WESTHOFF
Employee Services Consultant
Teresa joins the OMNI staff with experience in payroll and other related human resource knowledge. She will be helping our clients by facilitating payroll, benefits and onboarding. She has a master’s degree in human resource management and enjoys the new challenges every day brings. When Teresa isn’t working, she enjoys working out, traveling, watching Netflix, and hanging out with family and friends.
ANN CRIPE
Senior Consultant
Ann is a strategic business partner and HR leader across multiple disciplines of human resources. With a passion for building strong partnerships with her clients, she enjoys understanding the business and providing solutions in the areas of employee relations, compliance, leadership development, talent management, recruiting, training, and compensation. She has over 25 years of human resources experience in a variety of industries including PEO, legal, technology, energy, insurance, and nonprofit. Ann has a Bachelors’ degree in Psychology with minors in Management and English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In her spare time, Ann enjoys wellness, interior design, hiking and spending time with her husband and daughter.
MEREDITH HAUCK
Senior Consultant
Meredith brings more than 15 years of multi-disciplinary executive-level leadership to her work with OMNI as a Senior Consultant. She is skilled in organizational structure and management, strategic communications, employee relations, and leadership development. Meredith also utilizes her training as a certified executive coach to guide and counsel individuals and teams. Meredith has a Bachelors’ degree in Journalism and a Masters’ Degree in Public Administration, both from the University of Kansas. Outside of work, Meredith enjoys traveling, volunteering, attending concerts, and spending time with family and friends.
STACEY COWAN
Senior Consultant
Stacey Cowan brings nearly seven years’ experience as Membership Director for the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce to her work with OMNI as a Senior Consultant. While at the Chamber, she led membership recruitment and retention efforts and represented the Chamber in the community, building an extensive network of relationships to strengthen local businesses. Prior to that, she held several leadership roles in the hospitality industry. Ms. Cowan’s wealth of community involvement and business development experience will be an enormous asset to OMNI’s steadily growing Executive Search practice.
KELI TUSCHMAN
Senior Consultant
With 20 years’ experience working in HR, Keli views herself as a businessperson, as well as an HR professional. Her background in accounting has also been a plus for her understanding of the business environment that HR supports. Keli has worked in the energy sector for Koch Industries and Merrill Lynch, in Higher Ed and K-12 education, and has served on several non-profit boards. She is a strategic partner who can provide services in all areas of human resources to support your business needs. Keli and her husband have two high school age children and love all that the Kansas City area has to offer families.
Prior to joining OMNI Human Resource Management talent acquisition team in 2020, Ms. Hoffman led the talent acquisition teams at Kansas City Southern Railway and Sprint world headquarters. She has over 30 years’ experience in HR management and talent acquisition and is recognized for partnering with senior leaders to identify needs, translating them into initiatives that attract, develop, and retain top talent. Ms. Hoffman holds a graduate MSM degree from Baker University and a BS degree from Pittsburg State University. Outside of work Karen enjoys traveling both domestically and overseas.