The Secret to Keeping Young Staff

A lot of workplaces are asking the same question right now:“How do we keep young staff?”In this episode of Not Work Ready, I explore why many young people don’t actually leave because work is hard — they leave because the environment around the work feels difficult to settle into.I unpack the social and emotional side of employment that workplaces often underestimate, including the importance of belonging, clarity, fairness, and psychological safety for young staff entering the workforce.Throughout the episode, I share reflections and stories from my experience working alongside young people in workplaces, mentoring programs, and youth services, and why I believe mentoring can play such an important role in helping young staff settle, grow in confidence, and stay connected to work.In this episode:Why young people experience workplaces differentlyThe importance of social belonging at workHow uncertainty and lack of clarity quietly increase stressThe role fairness plays in trust and retentionWhy young staff often leave emotionally before they leave physicallyHow mentoring helps young people settle into workplacesWhat workplaces that retain young staff usually understandKey takeawayYoung staff are not just looking for jobs. They are looking for workplaces where they feel connected, clear about what’s expected, and treated fairly.When workplaces create environments that feel socially safe, predictable, and supportive, young people are far more likely to relax, contribute, and stay.ConnectWebsite:https://confidenceinmentoring.com.auLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathonvanderploeg/Substack:https://confidenceinmentoring.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit confidenceinmentoring.substack.com