How are small businesses engaging employees?

SCORE’s The Megaphone of Main Street Spring 2023 focuses on Employment Engagement. It found that small business owners rank hiring the right talent (60.7%) and retaining/motivating employees (33%) as their number one and number three challenges, respectively. Wages and healthcare are major roadblocks, with the top reasons for disengaged employees being wages (59.3%) and healthcare benefits (39.1%), although employers also are struggling with workers who are less motivated (38.5%), workers who have other jobs and/or side hustles (29.7%) and workers who are less qualified (23.4%). Solutions? In addition to higher wages, offering an attractive company culture (46.2%), professional development opportunities (41.3%), and flexible work options (36.8%) are effective for employee retention. #IdeaoftheDay