AGENT TURNOVER
Job Satisfaction
Agents get satisfaction when they can easily and successfully satisfy the customer.
Survey after survey shows that money is not the zenith to job satisfaction. To make the job less stressful and easier start listening to agents for input. W. Edwards Deming walked the manufacturing floor to listen to production line workers’ ideas. Job satisfaction isn’t always about money and benefits; it is more intrinsic. Agents work the phones daily and as a result see opportunities for improvement. They can share ideas such as how and what to automate and how to make things run better. Agents want the satisfaction of being heard. “If you hear me, you value me. If you put my suggestions into practice, you value me. If you make the job easier, you value me.” Employees desire to succeed and want to contribute to the company’s success. Listen and implement employee process improvement suggestions.
Technology Works
When agents show up every day they want to do a great job for the company and for the customer. Agents want to be successful.
Nothing impedes this more than when the agent’s tools are broken, outdated or cumbersome. Today’s entry-level contact center agents grew up on electronic games and has a higher level of expectation of what is fast and fun. If you are running an old application that is cumbersome, slow, and has a black DOS screen, it is not fun to use nor easy to learn. Does that system have limitations preventing the agent from doing his job; creating frustration and stress? Stress is the number one reason for absenteeism. Does the agent need to login to multiple applications to perform a simple function that adds 10 extra minutes to talk times? Do you have applications that are constantly not working and agents needing to use work-arounds? Broken tools are de-motivators and morale busters. Broken tools add frustration and stress because the agent can’t do the best job he knows he can do to service the customer. He just wants to go home at the end of the day knowing he did a good job.
Why Agents Leave
Turnover is the result of many issues.
Some of the top reasons given are “they weren’t the right fit”, “the competition is paying more and has more robust benefits”, or “not optimal work conditions (schedule, hours, shift times etc.)”, but, the number one reason for leaving is “issues with immediate supervisors.” One that is unique to contact centers is “the lack of mobility for agents within the company.” If the company is headquartered elsewhere, employees feel dead-ended with their job career and advancement.
While these are all good reasons why agents leave, has anyone looked at the actually job itself? It is a tough job! It is extremely difficult to sit in a small space on top of another agent, repeating the same disclosures, asking the same questions over and over, and selling the same upgrade all in a very stressful environment. Is the pizza sitting in the breakroom that the site manager sprung for going to make them feel less tired? Less stressed? How about the balloons tied to the agent’s desk? Do those balloons really make the agent feel less tension and anxiety?
Retention Strategies Start with Technology
Making the agent’s job easier and more bearable starts with automating tasks.
What can you do to make agents feel better about their jobs? How can you turn a boring job into an interesting job? For example, the disclosures that are the same can be prerecorded and played by the agent. Much like the airlines playing the safety video instead of having flight attendants go through the painful process of showing how to fasten a seatbelt. Prerecorded disclosures are much more professional, pleasant to listen to and offer a refreshing voice for the caller.
Take the stress out of the job by automating steps integrating the CRM and contact center platform. Create online forms and fill in the blank forms that make processes error-proof. Once systems are integrated these forms will automatically update other systems, minimizing the number of applications agents are required to work in and therefore learn and master. Are agents forgetting after call notes? How about a screen pop or CTI so agents can’t fail to miss that step? These types of automation help agents meet expectations. When agents succeed in doing their jobs they stick around.
INDUSTRY SERVICE TIPS
1. Don’t be afraid to let go. Fire those that are not performing. Underperformers dominate a supervisor’s time, energy and resources
2. Recognize and reward in real-time. Celebrate an agent’s success by making it social and tangible.
NEXT STEPS
There are numerous retention strategies that focus on the recruiting process, compensation, recognition and other “feel good” games and parties intended to make it a great place to work. Change your focus from trying to change the environment to focusing on making the job less stressful and more interesting. Today’s contact center platforms and CRMs can automate many of the mundane tasks that agents have to repeat over and over. Use technology to create processes that make agents successful and engaged. Don’t delay in making these kinds of changes, the sooner your agents feel good about their jobs the less likely they will quit. Make your place a great place to work.
WHY BOTHER?
When agents show up every day they want to do a great job for the company and for the customer. Agents want to be successful.
Nothing impedes this more than when the agent’s tools are broken, outdated or cumbersome. Today’s entry-level contact center agents grew up on electronic games and has a higher level of expectation of what is fast and fun. If you are running an old application that is cumbersome, slow, and has a black DOS screen, it is not fun to use nor easy to learn. Does that system have limitations preventing the agent from doing his job; creating frustration and stress? Stress is the number one reason for absenteeism. Does the agent need to login to multiple applications to perform a simple function that adds 10 extra minutes to talk times? Do you have applications that are constantly not working and agents needing to use work-arounds? Broken tools are de-motivators and morale busters. Broken tools add frustration and stress because the agent can’t do the best job he knows he can do to service the customer. He just wants to go home at the end of the day knowing he did a good job.
Value your agents; by investing in contact center design, furnishing, and functionality. Companies send a clear message to agents about how there work is valued by the environment they provide.
Keeping agents comfortable and content; Agents spend a lot of time tethered to their desks. Creating an environment and atmosphere that keeps agents comfortable and content will parlay into each call an agent takes. Making customers content too versus agents venting frustrations and dumping inappropriate comments on callers. Comfort is also psychological since workers like to have control over their space such as temperature control, decorations, optional standing desk and lighting choices. The agents’ ability to adjust the environment to their style and job requirements does promotes higher productivity and job satisfaction. Workers who are constantly distracted by making themselves comfortable are far less productive.
Contact Centers are tough places to work; high-pressure environments, repetitive tasks and conversations, negative issue resolutions all while keeping your cool. Performance is strictly monitored; every keystroke and phone call is monitored.
Ergonomic furniture; They sit for hours on end, often in a high-pressure environment, making them prime candidates for aching backs, necks, and wrists. Aches and pains, in turn, can lead to absenteeism and costly injuries. The more agents’ sit, the better their chair should be. Spend the money on the chair and get all the adjustments and options Keyboard, trays, monitors is another source of comfort. Do agents currently share workstations, or will they in the future? The more sharing that goes on the more adjustments you will need.
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INDUSTRY EXPERTS
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NETWORKING FOR CONTACT CENTER PROFESSIONALS
ABOUT NACSMA
NACSMA brings together like-minded professionals focused on advancing the customer contact industry and creating career growth.
BEST-IN-CLASS
Management of a best-in-class contact center sites require the continuous review of Agent Sourcing Models, Organizational Training and Management Development Programs.
NACSMA MEMBERSHIP
NACSMA is a professional, non-profit association whose members represent customer contact organizations and the vendors who support them.
IMPLEMENTATION
When a contact center organization expands to an additional site or requires new space, the steps to properly implement are unique to each organization but do have standard phases.