What ticks an employee to stick to an organization?

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Someone posted a question (over the weekend!) "What is that ticks an employee to stick to an organization?" Can you say one thing that is must to have in workplace and that’s what makes an employee to adhere to the company and that’s the key retention factor.

The following was my early monday morning answer :)


The first factor. Every employee holds different Values which he or she expects from an organization. These values are very intrinsic and often remain unknown even to that particular individual. These non negotiable values range from Job Satisfaction (More to deal with the "I contribute factor"), Security of monthly income, Learning and Developing, Respect, Reward, Recognition, Growth in the chain etc.

The second factor is to realization of employee skills (Preferred Skills) by an organization and by the individual himself. So lets say I am an operations manager and I love been with people motivating them to achieve the targets while keeping a close eye on metrics management and improvements. People and Performance management is my core or preferred skill.
Now at this point of time I am realigned to a different role with a better pay and designation and the job involves looking a reports and graphs and cite business improvements which is an acquired skill but not my preferred skill...I will be in that Job for a period of time with a desire to learn or for the comfort of work hours etc....however soon with develop with a vaccum to align myself to my preferred skill and this is where the breakdown happens and may be the first symptom of an employee attrition.

Organizations which invest in understanding the real values and preferred skills of their employees and align a balance are successful in keeping their people.

The success is directly proportional to the degree of this balance.