On any given day, when two or more laundry executives or owners like myself get together, the topic of our severe labor shortage nearly always comes up. Yet, most well-managed companies also have a number of longtime qualified staff in hourly and management posts. The problem is the 10%, 15% or even 20% of those people who “churn,” or, turn over, regularly. So what can we do about them?

One way is to start is by doing what my company and others do by recognizing your senior staff and making sure they know that they’re appreciated and valued. We recently ...