Effect of Employee Turnover on Apparel Productivity and Solution

Our apparel manufacturing industries are infested with a high rate of worker turnover. Large-scale turnover adversely affects product quality, productivity, and factory effectiveness. Due to a high rate of turnover, production lines starve of operators, lines cannot be balanced, and so apparel productivity as well as product quality suffer. This article presents details on the Effect of Employee Turnover on Apparel Productivity and solutions for it.

Why Do Skilled Workers Migrate in the Apparel Industry?

It is a general tendency of people not to change the status quo. Employees do not change workplaces, because they have friends whom they do not want to miss, they have a familiar work environment which they do not want to forgo. They have a familiar boss, whom they know & who takes care of them. There are scores of other factors impeding their flight from one factory to another. It is a difficult and hard decision to leave for a new workplace. So, people change their workplace only under compelling situations.

Causes of Employee Turnover in an Organization:

Worker turnover has been a subject of vigorous investigations for more than a hundred years, and the reasons are well known. Under our prevailing situation in this country, workers do migrate for a good number of reasons. Some of them may be controlled, while others are well beyond the control of managers. The reasons for worker migration may be the following:

1. A group of causes that are beyond control:

• Guardians change their residence, and so do their wards.
• Marriage becomes an impediment to the continuation of service for females in this country.

2. Group of Causes that may be controlled:

• Salary & wages are not delivered on time.
• Workers undergo excessive working hours and overtime.
• Harassment, humiliation & insult are used as a tool of management.
• Factories have a clockwork culture, including on weekends & holidays.
• Workers feel a bleak prospect of personal growth and development.
• Discrimination exists in awarding promotions, increments, etc.
• There is the absence of equitable salary & benefits, etc.

How to Reduce Textile and Apparel Employee Turnover in the Manufacturing Industry?

The following measures may be followed to control worker turnover:

• Deliver salary, wages & overtime on time.
• Eliminate off-the-clock work culture & keep holidays & weekends off.
• Eliminate harassment, humiliation & insult as a tool of management from the workplace.
• Institute training for helpers to develop them into operators.
• Institute training of workers to develop them into multi-skilled operators.
• Increase salary & wages based on personal efficiency & work rating.
• Streamline salary & wages after training so that worker efficiency is recognized.
• Determine the salary level at par with that existing in the concerned industrial sector.
• Arrange a launch for the workers.
• Arrange for their Medicare.
• Take care of the workers when they are sick, at peril & problems.
• Institute counseling services.
• Institute a congenial work environment in the factory.
• Make your factory compliant.
• Launch long-term benefits like provident fund & gratuity, etc. 

Effect of Employee Turnover on Apparel Productivity

Employee turnover in the apparel industry can significantly impact productivity in several ways:

1. Increased Training Costs – Frequent hiring and retraining of new employees reduce operational efficiency.
2. Lower Skill Levels – New workers may lack experience, leading to slower production and higher defect rates.
3. Disrupted Workflow – High turnover creates inconsistency in team dynamics, affecting coordination and output.
4. Reduced Morale – Constant changes in staff can demotivate remaining employees, lowering overall productivity.
5. Higher Recruitment Burden – HR departments spend more time hiring rather than focusing on productivity improvements.

Solutions to Reduce Employee Turnover in the Apparel Industry

Competitive Wages & Benefits

• Offer fair salaries, bonuses, and incentives (e.g., attendance rewards).
• Provide health benefits and retirement plans to improve retention.

Better Working Conditions

• Ensure safe, ergonomic, and well-ventilated workspaces.
• Implement flexible shifts where possible.

Training & Career Growth

• Provide skill development programs to enhance employee expertise.
• Offer promotions and internal career advancement opportunities.

Employee Engagement & Recognition

• Conduct regular feedback sessions to address concerns.
• Recognize and reward high-performing workers to boost morale.

Strong Onboarding Process

• Ensure new hires receive proper training and mentorship to adapt quickly.

Work-Life Balance Initiatives

• Allow reasonable overtime policies and paid leave to prevent burnout.

Automation & Technology Integration

• Reduce repetitive tasks by introducing automation, making jobs less strenuous.

By implementing these strategies, apparel companies can reduce turnover, improve productivity, and maintain a more stable and skilled workforce. Understanding the Effect of Employee Turnover on Apparel Productivity, we can find the solution to it.