--- title: Kevin Burns Blog | Employee Retention description: Employee Retention | Tools and strategies to build supervisor leadership, clarify the safety message, and get employee buy-in. --- Kevin Burns Blog | Employee Retention [![KevBurns Learning: We teach industrial supervisors how to be really great leaders.](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kev-Burns-Learning-white.png?width=240&height=118&name=Kev-Burns-Learning-white.png "KevBurns Learning: We teach industrial supervisors how to be really great leaders.")](https://www.kevburns.com/) - [About](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [Supervisor Academy](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [7 Reasons to Not Work With Us](https://www.kevburns.com/7-reasons-not-to-work-with-us) - [52 Benefits of Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/52-benefits) - [Hope Calculator](https://www.kevburns.com/calculator) - [Issues](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [People](https://www.kevburns.com/people-issues) - [Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Escalations](https://www.kevburns.com/escalation-issues) - [Resources](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Books](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Newsletter](https://www.kevburns.com/newsletter) - [Downloads](https://www.kevburns.com/downloads) - [Case Study NBU](https://www.kevburns.com/nbu-case-study) - [Case Study WCC](https://www.kevburns.com/wcc-case-study-2026) - [ROI Videos](https://www.kevburns.com/videos) - [Speaking](https://www.kevburns.com/speaking) - [Media/Podcast](https://www.kevburns.com/media) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.kevburns.com/contact-us) - [About](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [Supervisor Academy](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [7 Reasons to Not Work With Us](https://www.kevburns.com/7-reasons-not-to-work-with-us) - [52 Benefits of Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/52-benefits) - [Hope Calculator](https://www.kevburns.com/calculator) - [Issues](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [People](https://www.kevburns.com/people-issues) - [Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Escalations](https://www.kevburns.com/escalation-issues) - [Resources](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Books](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Newsletter](https://www.kevburns.com/newsletter) - [Downloads](https://www.kevburns.com/downloads) - [Case Study NBU](https://www.kevburns.com/nbu-case-study) - [Case Study WCC](https://www.kevburns.com/wcc-case-study-2026) - [ROI Videos](https://www.kevburns.com/videos) - [Speaking](https://www.kevburns.com/speaking) - [Media/Podcast](https://www.kevburns.com/media) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.kevburns.com/contact-us) # Kevin Burns Blog #### Leadership for frontline industrial supervisors. [Current Articles](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) [RSS](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/rss.xml) [Why Work With Kevin?](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [safety leadership (247)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-leadership) - [safety culture (166)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-culture) - [kevin burns (138)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/kevin-burns) - [safety buy-in (125)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-buy-in) - [peoplework (96)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/peoplework) - [the carefull supervisor (90)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/the-carefull-supervisor) - [safety meeting (74)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-meeting) - [supervisor training (65)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-training) - [safety speaker (60)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-speaker) - [PeopleWork Supervisor Academy (59)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/peoplework-supervisor-academy) - [safety marketing (59)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-marketing) - [safety communications (58)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-communications) - [supervisor leadership (57)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-leadership) - [safety complacency (52)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-complacency) - [safety (51)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety) - [selling safety (33)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/selling-safety) - [Leadership Development (32)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/leadership-development) - [Supervisor leadership skills (32)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-leadership-skills) - [supervisor development (29)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-development) - [supervisor safety coaching (23)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-safety-coaching) - [Developing effective frontline leaders (18)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/developing-effective-frontline-leaders) - [employee engagement (18)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-engagement) - [frontline supervisors (17)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-supervisors) - [hope promotion (17)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/hope-promotion) - [Employee Retention (15)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-retention) - [workplace safety culture (14)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-safety-culture) - [Industrial Supervision (13)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/industrial-supervision) - [workplace culture (12)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-culture) - [Workplace Safety (11)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-safety) - [Business ROI (10)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/business-roi) - [CareFull Supervisor (10)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/carefull-supervisor) - [Engaging frontline teams (9)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/engaging-frontline-teams) - [people skills (9)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/people-skills) - [positive supervisor (9)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/positive-supervisor) - [industrial leadership (6)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/industrial-leadership) - [supervisor communications (6)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-communications) - [frontline leadership (5)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-leadership) - [industrial safety (5)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/industrial-safety) - [operations management (5)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/operations-management) - [frontline supervisor training (3)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-supervisor-training) - [operational performance (3)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/operational-performance) - [team development (3)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/team-development) - [12 metrics (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/12-metrics) - [Employee Motivation (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-motivation) - [Succession Planning (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/succession-planning) - [absenteeism and safety (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/absenteeism-and-safety) - [disengagement (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/disengagement) - [employee turnover (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-turnover) - [frontline management (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-management) - [industrial management (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/industrial-management) - [manufacturing leadership (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/manufacturing-leadership) - [operations leadership (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/operations-leadership) - [people-leading skills (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/people-leading-skills) - [plant manager (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/plant-manager) - [psychological safety (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/psychological-safety) - [safety manager (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-manager) - [safety training for supervisors (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-training-for-supervisors) - [supervisor adaptability (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-adaptability) - [supervisor people-skills (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-people-skills) - [supervisor safety leadership (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-safety-leadership) - [supervisor trust (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-trust) - [team culture (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/team-culture) - [workforce stability (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workforce-stability) - [52 benefits of safety (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/52-benefits-of-safety) - [Absenteeism Reduction (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/absenteeism-reduction) - [FOMU (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/fomu) - [FOMU cascade (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/fomu-cascade) - [absenteeism (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/absenteeism) - [analysis paralysis (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/analysis-paralysis) - [care in the workplace (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/care-in-the-workplace) - [coaching supervisors (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/coaching-supervisors) - [confidence at work (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/confidence-at-work) - [core essentials (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/core-essentials) - [cost cutting (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/cost-cutting) - [crisis management (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/crisis-management) - [delegation (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/delegation) - [departmental budget cuts (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/departmental-budget-cuts) - [departmental silos (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/departmental-silos) - [ehs (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/ehs) - [employee burnout (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-burnout) - [employee wellbeing (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-wellbeing) - [employee wellness program (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-wellness-program) - [employees interrupt safety meetings (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employees-interrupt-safety-meetings) - [escalations (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/escalations) - [exit interview (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/exit-interview) - [family safety culture (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/family-safety-culture) - [fear of messing up (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/fear-of-messing-up) - [ghosting (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/ghosting) - [how to improve safety culture (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/how-to-improve-safety-culture) - [how to reduce workplace stress (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/how-to-reduce-workplace-stress) - [how to run a safety meeting (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/how-to-run-a-safety-meeting) - [hse (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/hse) - [kevburns (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/kevburns) - [leadership standardization (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/leadership-standardization) - [management meetings (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/management-meetings) - [mental health at work (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/mental-health-at-work) - [new employee no-shows (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/new-employee-no-shows) - [onboarding (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/onboarding) - [organizational silos (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/organizational-silos) - [performance metrics (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/performance-metrics) - [peter principle (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/peter-principle) - [productivity (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/productivity) - [relationship management (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/relationship-management) - [safety meeting problems (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-meeting-problems) - [safety meeting script (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-meeting-script) - [safety performance (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-performance) - [safety posters (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-posters) - [safety program conditions (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-program-conditions) - [silo thinking (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/silo-thinking) - [staff retention (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/staff-retention) - [stress at work (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/stress-at-work) - [supervisor coaching (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-coaching) - [supervisor confidence (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-confidence) - [supervisor loneliness (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-loneliness) - [supervisor warning signs (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-warning-signs) - [taking control of safety meetings (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/taking-control-of-safety-meetings) - [truly human leadership (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/truly-human-leadership) - [turnover and safety (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/turnover-and-safety) - [unplanned costs (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/unplanned-costs) - [workplace stress (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-stress) - [workplace wellness (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-wellness) - [world-class safety program (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/world-class-safety-program) See all ## [Why New Employee No-Shows Are On The Rise (Ghosting)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-new-employee-no-shows-are-on-the-rise-ghosting) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 23, 2026 [![ghosting and no shows](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ghosts%20and%20no-shows.jpg?width=900&name=ghosts%20and%20no-shows.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-new-employee-no-shows-are-on-the-rise-ghosting) Ghosts are real. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-new-employee-no-shows-are-on-the-rise-ghosting) ## [How Industrial Operations Managers Sabotage Their Leadership Pipeline](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/how-industrial-operations-managers-sabotage-their-leadership-pipeline) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 19, 2026 [![when you feel there is no one to promote, you shortcut your leadership pipeline](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/No%20One%20To%20Promote%20thumb.png?width=900&name=No%20One%20To%20Promote%20thumb.png)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/how-industrial-operations-managers-sabotage-their-leadership-pipeline) If you ask most operations managers why they can't find anyone ready to promote, they'll tell you it's a people problem. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/how-industrial-operations-managers-sabotage-their-leadership-pipeline) ## [Why Employees Don't Trust Their Supervisors (3 Directions of Trust)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-employees-dont-trust-their-supervisors-3-directions-of-trust) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 12, 2026 [![trust me why employees don't trust their supervisors](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/trust%20me%20-%20kevin%20burns%20facing%20camera%20for%20a%20video%20about%20company%20trust%20at%20an%20all%20time%20low.png?width=900&name=trust%20me%20-%20kevin%20burns%20facing%20camera%20for%20a%20video%20about%20company%20trust%20at%20an%20all%20time%20low.png)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-employees-dont-trust-their-supervisors-3-directions-of-trust) Ask most senior managers whether their employees trust their supervisors, and you'll get one of two answers. Either a confident yes or a long pause. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-employees-dont-trust-their-supervisors-3-directions-of-trust) ## [4 Ways Departmental Silos Are Costing You Every Metric](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/4-ways-departmental-silos-are-costing-you-every-metric) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 5, 2026 [![there are 4 ways silos are hurting your company](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/14%20thumb.jpg?width=900&name=14%20thumb.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/4-ways-departmental-silos-are-costing-you-every-metric) In nearly 30 years of working with industrial companies, almost every single one has admitted the same thing. They have a communications problem, a departmental silo problem, or heaven help them, both. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/4-ways-departmental-silos-are-costing-you-every-metric) ## [Why Senior Management Can't Build the Safety Culture They Talk About](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-senior-management-cant-build-the-safety-culture-they-talk-about) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on March 13, 2026 [![Why Senior Management Can't Build the Safety Culture They Talk About](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020260313.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020260313.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-senior-management-cant-build-the-safety-culture-they-talk-about) Most companies treat safety culture like it is its own separate problem. It is not. It rises and falls with every metric on your dashboard. And every one of those metrics has the same root cause. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-senior-management-cant-build-the-safety-culture-they-talk-about) ## [5 Things Supervisors Need From Their Employers to Succeed](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/5-things-supervisors-need-from-their-employers-to-succeed) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on February 13, 2026 [![](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020260213.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020260213.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/5-things-supervisors-need-from-their-employers-to-succeed) Frontline supervisors want to succeed — but they can't do it without their employer. Here are five things your supervisors actually need from you to build stronger teams, better safety culture, and more consistent production. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/5-things-supervisors-need-from-their-employers-to-succeed) ## [You Can't Fix Culture By Only Focusing On Safety - Here's The Plan](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/safety-culture-is-a-by-product-not-a-direct-result) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 22, 2026 [![why move only one metric when you can move 12?](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20260109.jpg?width=900&name=20260109.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/safety-culture-is-a-by-product-not-a-direct-result) You can't build a safety culture by only focusing on safety. Here's the leadership problem that's driving your incident rate, AND turnover, AND productivity, AND engagement, AND a dozen other problems ... including safety. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/safety-culture-is-a-by-product-not-a-direct-result) ## [Your Safety Culture Lives or Dies in the First 90 Days](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-safety-culture-lives-or-dies-in-the-first-90-days) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 24, 2025 [![safety culture success is determined in the first 90 days](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020251024.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020251024.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-safety-culture-lives-or-dies-in-the-first-90-days) Your new employees will either embrace or reject your safety culture within their first 90 days. Senior management can set policies and launch initiatives, but they can't create safety culture at the frontline level. New team members are learning something deeper through daily interactions: whether their supervisor genuinely cares about their well-being. The relationship built in those first 90 days determines everything about how that employee approaches safety for their entire time with your company. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-safety-culture-lives-or-dies-in-the-first-90-days) ## [Nobody Wants to Be Supervisor Anymore (And What to Do About It)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/nobody-wants-to-be-supervisor-anymore-why-your-best-people-are-refusing-promotions-and-what-to-do-about-it) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 10, 2025 [![why your best people are refusing promotions and how to fix it](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020251010.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020251010.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/nobody-wants-to-be-supervisor-anymore-why-your-best-people-are-refusing-promotions-and-what-to-do-about-it) Inc. magazine just confirmed what we've been warning about for years: only 30% of employees want leadership roles anymore. Your best people are watching fellow employees get promoted and struggle - then deciding "I don't want that job." Here's why this is happening, what it's costing you, and how to fix it before your competitors do. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/nobody-wants-to-be-supervisor-anymore-why-your-best-people-are-refusing-promotions-and-what-to-do-about-it) ## [When Your Team Doesn't Trust Management](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/when-your-team-doesnt-trust-management) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on September 11, 2025 [![trained supervisors can still build trust when employees don't trust the company](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250829.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250829.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/when-your-team-doesnt-trust-management) Your supervisors are stuck between past company decisions and team members who distrust management. This distrust is showing up in your safety numbers, productivity metrics, and turnover rates. But trained supervisors know how to build individual trust even when company trust has been damaged. They use specific relationship skills to separate their leadership from past leadership and prove through actions that they're different. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/when-your-team-doesnt-trust-management) [All posts](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-retention/page/2) ### Subscribe to Kevin's Blog Get insights and strategies to build the leadership skills employees want their supervisors to have! Subscribe now. --- Kevin Burns' newest book, **The CareFull Supervisor**. This is the book that every frontline supervisor should read.   ![carefull-supervisor-3d-covers-400-1](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/carefull-supervisor-3d-covers-400-1.png?width=253&height=253&name=carefull-supervisor-3d-covers-400-1.png)   **BUY NOW:** [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/CareFull-Supervisor-Tools-Succeed-Employees/dp/1039197256)| [B&N](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-carefull-supervisor-kevin-burns/1144577942) | [Indigo](https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-carefull-supervisor-the-tools-to-succeed-and-be-the-supervisor-employees-want-to-have/9781039197268.html)| [FreisenPress](https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000383321344)| [Kobo](https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-carefull-supervisor)| Audible --- ### Recent Posts - [About](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [Supervisor Academy](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) #### © 2026 PeopleWork Align Inc. 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