The current economic climate has led to an interesting new trend in business. In a recent study by CareerBuilder, only 45 percent of employers saw employee retention as a problem, while 87 percent of employees are open to a new job opportunity or actively are seeking a new job. This extreme difference in the views of the current hiring situation shows that many businesses might be vulnerable to losing their top employees and might not even know it.

There are several steps employers can take to make sure the most valuable employees in their company are going to be there long term.

> Improve the work environment – Provide a work environment that gives employees respect, recognition and feedback, with some fun mixed in every now and then for good measure. Top employees want to know they will be given one of the basic aspects of the work place: respect. A respectful work environment should include recognition for accomplishments and goals being met and feedback and constructive criticism to encourage growth.

> Offer training opportunities – Training can come in several varieties, including onsite computer or leadership classes, mentorship programs or reimbursement for classes at a local university or vocational school. These additional learning opportunities not only help employees feel more committed to the company but also provide businesses with workers who are better-trained, more loyal and willing to go out into the community to talk about the great benefits they receive.

> Offer competitive compensation – This is the most talked about way to retain great employees. The most obvious of ways to keep great employees is to pay them more. While a pay raise might not be feasible for small businesses, that doesn’t mean there aren’t creative ways to offer the hardest-working employees benefits other companies don’t have.

The best employees know their company might not be able to give them a bonus or pay raise now, but a small form of appreciation can make a big difference in their decision to search for a new job or stay in their current position. Consider offering a flexible work schedule one or two days a week.

The best employees always will be in high demand, but that doesn’t mean companies have to lose them. With a few, cost-effective programs and work environment changes, the best employees will be more committed to their employer.

Christy Skojec Taylor is co-owner of Express Employment Professionals in Rocky Mount.