Turnover in logistics
Staff turnover in UK warehouses has reached an unprecedented 49%. Lack of career development, poor leadership, excessive workloads, and toxic environments all contribute and are having a profound effect on the industry.
Here we consider:
We have provided you with some strategies to help overcome these common causes in our FREE downloadable resource.
Having employees constantly leave can cause a loss of knowledge and experience, which ultimately disrupts the day-to-day workings of the business as time is spent training less experienced employees. This then also impacts expenses due to hiring and training costs, which may force some businesses to look at redundancies.
This vicious cycle may then cause employees to feel unsettled within their job, which can then impact work morale and output, and the cycle of turnover continues.
Lack of Career Development Opportunities
The first common cause is a lack of career development opportunities. Employees may feel at a standstill with no opportunities to grow within the business. This may be especially felt by those with fewer education certificates under their belts. If employees feel as though they are stuck in a rut, they may become distracted and disinterested and look for work elsewhere.
An example of this is Lurie, a temp we placed in December 2023 who had no qualifications and no experience. He was employed as a warehouse operative working within a busy recycling waste department. He was responsible for all types of duties, including unloading, loading, working on the baler, emptying trollies and cages, sorting out trays, and more. As time went on, he became an integral part of the team and was trained up on MHE (PPT) and a go-to colleague for all new starters, whom he would train and guide through their first few weeks. Over the course of his 12 weeks with the business, he worked closely with the managers, who guided and advised him on certain policies and practices. After 10 weeks as an OP, he interviewed for the position of team leader, which he was accepted and offered, and not long after that, he was offered a full-time contract starting in March 2024. He is now working towards becoming a shift manager.
This is a great example of career development opportunities, as well as strong and supportive management.
Poor Management
This leads us to poor management. It is something a lot of employees struggle with and another common cause of high turnover within logistics. Logistics is an extremely fast-paced and busy industry, and some industry leaders may feel they don’t have enough time to invest in all their employees. Unfortunately, this then leads to turnover as employees feel they aren’t valued, supported, and heard.
Work-life Balance
Work-life balance was ranked the number 1 factor by jobseekers, proving this balance is extremely important to a lot of people. Whether this is because you have a family, you care for someone, or your mental health. Having a work-life balance can make or break someone’s job if it isn’t met. People may start missing work or becoming disengaged due to their thoughts being elsewhere. Almost 3 in 10 (28%) of workers feel they are less productive due to a poor work-life balance, with 88% of UK employees feeling as though they had a burn out in the past 2 years.
Excessive Workload
Having an excessive workload can not only cause burnout but also excessive stress. 1 in 5 transport and logistics employees considered quitting due to excessive stress. This can especially be noticed during busy periods such as Black Friday and Christmas, where workloads are increased and more temporary staff are introduced, many of whom need time training. Companies may also try to save money by not employing any further staff, which ultimately creates more work for the current employees.
Toxic Work Culture
A toxic work culture is becoming more of a topic of discussion as people are focusing on their mental health more than ever. 75% of UK employees have said they have experienced a toxicity at work. A toxic work culture is an environment within a workplace that is harmful, stressful, and counterproductive to the well-being of employees and the business. It's characterised by behaviours, attitudes, and practices that undermine morale, hinder productivity, and prevent professional growth.
To prevent these issues, businesses should focus on providing clear career paths, regular performance evaluations, and opportunities for skill development. Improving communication, recognising employee contributions, and encouraging a positive work environment are also essential.
If you want to find out how to tackle these common causes of turnover within logistics, download our FREE resource here.
We specialise in recruitment for logistics, 3PL, and fulfilment, and having embedded ourselves in this space for 13 years, we understand the challenges you face. Businesses that work with us receive targeted hiring strategies, targeted job postings, careful screening, and market knowledge for competitive pay. If you are struggling with staff turnover, speak to Chris or Charlotte, and we can help you tackle this head on.
We have provided you with some strategies to help overcome these common causes in our FREE downloadable resource.
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