The employee life cycle (ELC) is an HR model that tracks the entire journey an employee takes at your organization. It begins the moment a potential employee becomes aware of your brand and lasts until their final day working at your company. Once you understand how to engage with your employees at every phase of the employee life cycle, you’ll be able to attract and retain the right candidates and boost the overall performance of your company.
Attraction
This is the first stage of the employee life cycle, and it is when potential applicants are first exposed to your brand.
This is a vital stage of the model because it is when candidates will decide whether or not you appeal as a potential employer. If you don’t make a good first impression, then you’ll be unlikely to attract the right talent to help you grow as a successful company.
Recruitment
The next stage of the employee life cycle is recruitment. This is when an employee passes from applicant to employee, and it is when most employees will form their first impression of you as an employer.
The main focus of this stage is to help new employees understand and blend in with your corporate culture.
During this stage, make sure you share enough information so that new hires understand your goals, attitudes, and values as a company. You also want them to understand the role they will play in helping to build your organization.
Retention
This is the 4th stage of the employee life cycle, and it is all about keeping employees happy.
The best way to do this is through a program for rewards and recognition. You also need to make sure you build a nurturing and supportive culture to promote employee satisfaction and engagement.
Development
During this stage, you want to help your employees develop their skills so that they get better in their roles. You also want them to feel they have a clear career path so that they are not tempted to seek employment elsewhere.
Separation
The final stage of the employee life cycle is separation, also known as the offboarding stage. This is what happens when an employee leaves your company. Whatever the reason for leaving, it’s important to provide a positive experience at this final stage. Aside from anything else, when a team member leaves, it has an effect on your other employees.