BEC-2 Reading Exercise(4)

    Questions 20-24

    Read the text below about how companies can make their employees want to stay.

    Choose the best sentence from the list on the opposite page to fill each of the gaps.

    For each gap 20-24, mark one letter (A-H) to complete the sentences.

    Do not use letter more than once.

    Keeping Good Employees

    The difficulty of holding on to good, experienced staff has always been a major issue with the majority of companies. High staff turnover can result in many problems. One of the most serious of these is the cost of continually having to find and trai8n replacements.

    Most companies hope to recruit the right type of person in the first place. However, too much emphasis on qualifications and not enough on personality often leads to a company attracting the right standard, but not the right kind, of person. 20)____. They can also be used to identify existing staff who are suitable but who, initially, may not have been considered.

    It is important for companies to understand why employees move on to another employer. 21)____. They can be the key to identifying any problem areas that might exist within an organisation. It is essential, therefore, that employees who are about to disappear are interviewed before they depart, in order to discover why they are leaving.

    Analysis of these interviews has shown that a lack of appreciation is one of the main factors causing employees to look elsewhere for work. Managers should provide regular feedback to their staff. 22)____. If this is not done, employees will think their efforts are not appreciated.

    Communications within the organisation are another consideration. 23)____. This can be avoided through regular departmental and inter-departmental meetings, which are extremely valuable as a means of passing on information throughout the company and keeping employees up to date with recent developments. They also serve to provide the opportunity for employees to express their opinions.

    Paying staff according to how they perform is another way of recognising employees' efforts. If the company benefits from an employee's extra effort, it is only reasonable that the employee should also receive some financial benefit. It is, however, important to avoid offering some members of staff the opportunity to improve their pay while excluding other. 24)____. In cases where such difficulties might exist, a planned career progression for an individual staff member means that the person knows exactly what to expect from the job and what is required from them.

    20.

    21.

    22.

    23.

    24.

    A. For example, when good work has been done it must be praised.

    B This can easily happen, since it is not always possible to introduce productivity measurements into every employee's work.

    C. In particular, employers are recognising that these requirements will change as time goes by.

    D. Selection tests can be used to indicate a candidate's suitability for the job they are applying for.

    E. The methods of training do not necessarily have to mean increased costs.

    F. The reasons for staff resigning and the benefits offered by their new employers must be recorded.

    G. Options to consider are part-time working and job share schemes, which benefit both employer and employee.

    H. If these are poor, employees will feel left out.