With the World Economic Forum predicting that 40% of workers are thinking about quitting their jobs, employers are looking to prevent turnover by building connections between and across employee groups. Jennifer Reimert, a human resources exec and the vice president of Solutions Consulting at Workhuman, recently shared five ways to strengthen professional relationships in Forbes. 

1. Listen. Ask employees how it’s going and what they need. “Sometimes people just want to talk and be heard,” Reimert writes. “Really being present and listening can go a long way in building engagement and connection and making people feel seen.” 

2. Show appreciation. It is important to convey appreciation. “It’s a consistent drumbeat of the message ‘your work matters’,” Reimert notes, adding employees who give and receive recognition are more than twice less likely to leave.  

3. Celebrate life events. Milestones such as weddings, babies, birthdays, and buying houses are noteworthy. “Celebrating life events builds a foundation of trust,” Reimert states, “which enables your team to be high-performing and power through even in the most challenging situations.” 

4. Present team awards. Send messages of appreciation through group recognition to all employees or a large sub-group of employees. Reimert points to the example of Peter Fasolo, CHRO at Johnson & Johnson, who wrote about the “superhero” award given to all essential, on-site Johnson & Johnson employees at the height of the pandemic.  

5. Dig into the data. Look at your organization’s data. What is your turnover rate? Who is leaving? Why? Who is getting recognized? Who isn’t recognized? 

“Companies that put the human at the center of every decision will never be led astray,” Reimert summarizes. “Use these five tips to demonstrate you care for the full human, and in the process, you will foster the community, connection, and culture your team craved this past year.”