Workforce Tips for Employers
View the video for a few tips from Executive Director Nathan Sanderson on recruiting and retaining employees in your business.
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Hiring Teenage Workforce
View the video above to learn more about the requirement for hiring employees under 18.
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It’s no secret that South Dakota employers are constantly on the lookout for good employees. The trick is not just to find them, but to keep them. These days, it’s not just about money and benefits; employees are looking for more than that. Here’s a few tips that may help you to attract and keep good workers.
Treat Employees as an Investment, Not an Expense!
Turnover is an expensive proposition; weigh the cost of losing a current employee and the lack of productivity vs. the added cost of increased compensation or additional benefits.
Consider Employing More Nontraditional Workers
High school students, former inmates, retirees, and "gig" workers can fill many of the workforce needs for retail businesses.
Implement a Fresh Approach to Scheduling
A traditional work day may not be feasible for some potential employees; consider hiring two workers with flexible schedules for 20 hours/week or engage employees in setting their own hours.
Revisit Your Hiring Practices
Few employees find jobs by responding to a sign in your store window or an ad in the classifieds section of the newspaper; CareerBuilder, Indeed, Monster, Facebook, (others) are prime forums for reaching job seekers.
Be a Great Place to Work
Do you employees enjoy coming to work? If you experience turnover issues, it may be due to management or the work environment. Be proactive in making your business attractive to employees.
Turnover is an expensive proposition; weigh the cost of losing a current employee and the lack of productivity vs. the added cost of increased compensation or additional benefits.
Consider Employing More Nontraditional Workers
High school students, former inmates, retirees, and "gig" workers can fill many of the workforce needs for retail businesses.
Implement a Fresh Approach to Scheduling
A traditional work day may not be feasible for some potential employees; consider hiring two workers with flexible schedules for 20 hours/week or engage employees in setting their own hours.
Revisit Your Hiring Practices
Few employees find jobs by responding to a sign in your store window or an ad in the classifieds section of the newspaper; CareerBuilder, Indeed, Monster, Facebook, (others) are prime forums for reaching job seekers.
Be a Great Place to Work
Do you employees enjoy coming to work? If you experience turnover issues, it may be due to management or the work environment. Be proactive in making your business attractive to employees.
Experience vs Excellence
On-the-job experience isn’t always the best predictor of who will make the best employee for you. Rather than picking someone just because they have experience in your type of business, look at their personality.
Give Them a Meaningful Challenge
Today's employees want a job that means something, along with a chance to learn and grow. Instead of automatically asking experienced employees to tackle a project, hand it over to a young employee and let them know you trust their judgment and ability. They may not do it the same as your long-time staff, but younger workers can offer you new perspectives and fresh ideas, and they just might bring in new customers as a result.
High Praise Indeed
Employees respond to genuine praise. If someone has done something well, let them know you see it and appreciate it. Maybe they were patient and professional with a surly customer. Maybe they spruced up your store by picking up trash in the parking lot or tidying up merchandise without being asked. Maybe they came up with an idea for a promotion. Acknowledge it one-on-one as well as giving them public recognition, such as mentioning it in a staff meeting.
Rewards for a Job Well Done
If possible, find ways to thank and reward your employees – either individually or as a group - with something other than a financial bonus.
Some ideas include:
Be Flexible
Does a person absolutely have to be on-the-job 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, or can two people split a shift? Perhaps a person with children in school would like to work from 8:30 to 2:30. An early bird may like to come in early in the morning, but not want to work in the afternoon when their energy level ebbs. A parent might not want to work past 4:45 so they can pick up children from daycare, get home and make dinner. A student might not want to start working until 4:00. Someone else might like to work 10 or 12 hours a day, four days a week. Find out from your employees what their ideal hours would be, and see if you can accommodate those preferences.
On-the-job experience isn’t always the best predictor of who will make the best employee for you. Rather than picking someone just because they have experience in your type of business, look at their personality.
- Does the job involve serving customers? Go for a person with a cheerful attitude who likes to be around people and can multi-task.
- Does the job involve sitting behind a desk all day every day, with little contact with others? Look for a person who is content to work alone.
Give Them a Meaningful Challenge
Today's employees want a job that means something, along with a chance to learn and grow. Instead of automatically asking experienced employees to tackle a project, hand it over to a young employee and let them know you trust their judgment and ability. They may not do it the same as your long-time staff, but younger workers can offer you new perspectives and fresh ideas, and they just might bring in new customers as a result.
High Praise Indeed
Employees respond to genuine praise. If someone has done something well, let them know you see it and appreciate it. Maybe they were patient and professional with a surly customer. Maybe they spruced up your store by picking up trash in the parking lot or tidying up merchandise without being asked. Maybe they came up with an idea for a promotion. Acknowledge it one-on-one as well as giving them public recognition, such as mentioning it in a staff meeting.
Rewards for a Job Well Done
If possible, find ways to thank and reward your employees – either individually or as a group - with something other than a financial bonus.
Some ideas include:
- Hand-written notes of appreciation
- Tickets to a sporting event, concert, play or movie theatre
- A paid afternoon off
- Giving a donation to the charity of the employee’s choice
- Paying for their membership in a gym for a month
- Springing for a class they want to attend (many courses are available online if you don’t have local programs available)
- Renting an employee their dream car for a day or hiring a limousine to bring them to and from work on a day when their car is in the shop
- Taking your staff out to dinner;
- Throwing a staff party just for the fun of it
Be Flexible
Does a person absolutely have to be on-the-job 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, or can two people split a shift? Perhaps a person with children in school would like to work from 8:30 to 2:30. An early bird may like to come in early in the morning, but not want to work in the afternoon when their energy level ebbs. A parent might not want to work past 4:45 so they can pick up children from daycare, get home and make dinner. A student might not want to start working until 4:00. Someone else might like to work 10 or 12 hours a day, four days a week. Find out from your employees what their ideal hours would be, and see if you can accommodate those preferences.
The minimum wage is annually adjusted by any increase in cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price Index published by the U.S. Department of Labor. In no case may the minimum wage be decreased.
Non-tipped Employees
Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, the minimum wage for non-tipped employees in South Dakota will be $9.45/hour.
Tip Credit (Tipped Employees)
Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, the hourly minimum wage for tipped employees will be no less than $4.725/hour.
The employer must make sure the employees receive no less than the current minimum wage and must keep a record of all tips received by employees.
State Minimum Wage Posting
There is no state statute requirement for the following state minimum wage posting; it is provided as a courtesy and for informational purposes only.
2021 State Minimum Wage Posting (effective Jan. 1, 2021) — English | Spanish
Non-tipped Employees
Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, the minimum wage for non-tipped employees in South Dakota will be $9.45/hour.
Tip Credit (Tipped Employees)
Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, the hourly minimum wage for tipped employees will be no less than $4.725/hour.
The employer must make sure the employees receive no less than the current minimum wage and must keep a record of all tips received by employees.
State Minimum Wage Posting
There is no state statute requirement for the following state minimum wage posting; it is provided as a courtesy and for informational purposes only.
2021 State Minimum Wage Posting (effective Jan. 1, 2021) — English | Spanish
