Organizations depend on many assets to make them to succeed. One such asset, human resource development, is vital in enabling the organization to obtain its goals. It is the responsibility of human resource development (HRD) to help employees in attaining these objectives. HRD focuses on developing an organization’s workforce with the endeavor of attaining organizational goals by improving workforce performance thereby satisfying customers. Therefore, HRD enhances growth and development for both the employee and the organization.

Talent retention has continued to be an immense challenge to many organizations. Organizations have experienced an increase in talent shortages, which has made organizations appreciate the importance of employees in realizing their professional goals. Talent shortage can be defined as a situation where the skilled labor being supplied is not able to meet the demand of the organization.

To ensure that the organization meets the demand for the best talent in the market, the HRD professional has to implement good retention methods. Thus, retention is a measure undertaken by an organization to see that its employees do not leave the organization to seek employment elsewhere.  Creating strategies that ensure employee retention has been a critical challenge to many organizations.

By Shirley J. Caruso, M.A., Human Resource Development