Are you an employee at a company where coworkers are constantly coming and going on a regular basis?

This is called a high turnover rate. You may be in a position where you feel hopeless — like there's nothing you can do but roll with the punches and just hope for the best. You may feel like you're traveling down the dark road of despair, with no bright light at the end.

Let’s discuss how you can be aware of high turnover and respond promptly and swiftly, so you're ahead of the game.

The constant spinning door of employees frequently entering and exiting is a reality at companies with high turnover. At some point, you may be asking yourself, "What can I do?"

You and your coworkers can:

• Conduct regular check-ins with each other

• Serve as mentors to teammates

• Make yourselves available for any guidance and assistance

• Step up and offer to share some of each others' extra workloads

A support system will allow you all to feel less alone, overwhelmed, and frustrated. It could even improve job performance and productivity.

To address huge workloads due to staffing issues, ask your managers which tasks you should focus your attention on. You can even ask for deadline extensions to help you produce quality work, reduce stress, and avoid burnout. Take this opportunity to develop your prioritization and time management skills.

With these steps, you might not get to the point where you want to leave your job and become part of the revolving door.

Employees suffer from high turnover because it has a negative impact on their attitudes and work performance. It creates a confusing and unstructured environment, leading to low morale.

Showing appreciation and thanks among colleagues can go a long way. Taking time to recognize each other's efforts and accomplishments can encourage your coworkers to stick it out and not abandon ship so suddenly.

To brighten each other's experiences and hopefully prevent high turnover rates:

• Include notes of praise for each other on company-wide communications or team-wide emails (make sure the emails are labelled "high-priority")

• Applaud your colleagues' hard work while management is present

• Create initiatives like a colleague of the week award

Acknowledging hard work and commitment may:

• Change negative mindsets into more favorable ones

• Challenge your colleagues to want to be praised

• Produce a more success-driven environment where your coworkers want to stay

Another reason why high turnover rates happen is unprofessional behavior. It might be ignored or even enabled by management. Failure to respond creates feelings of bitterness and contempt on the part of employees.

Since you're on the frontline, you and your coworkers can write a letter to management, emphasizing key areas of ownership and responsibility of actions across the board.

The letter should address issues that affect everyone at the company, like frequent absences and missed deadlines. It should:

• Highlight the negative impact these issues have on the company's outcomes

• Recommended that management take a proactive approach early on, before it snowballs out of control

If this letter falls on deaf ears from management, employees should take up their concerns to the Human Resources department. HR might be able to intervene and speak to management about your concerns.

Advocate with your coworkers for an “open-door” policy that allows employees to voice their concerns and suggestions. Consider drop-boxes for anonymous notes or employee-developed surveys to give each other the chance to share your worries and ideas. Strength comes in numbers!

If these approaches don't work, take your concerns to Human Resources.

If you've exhausted all options, maybe it's time to ask yourself, “Do I see a future with this company?” 

You can use high turnover rates to your advantage by moving up the ranks when opportunities present themselves. If you end up in a leadership role, you can be a part of the change to develop a more positive and favorable work environment.

If you find yourself wanting to leave the company, do some research and find more reputable companies that match your philosophies and values, and won't see you as a number.

Use this as an opportunity to develop your networking skills and connect with other employees in your field. Get their feedback regarding companies that are worth investing your time in.

Be aware of the looming tide of high turnover rates early on before you become submerged!