Money and pay raises are great when it comes to helping retain quality employees, but convenience store retailers can take another step in cementing their people in place: being there for them.

Forging that personal connection with employees, letting them know that they are more than just items in the labor budget and that you’ve got their backs, can be accomplished in many different ways.

One method is to help them in their private lives. Some may need reliable transportation, babysitting, an affordable apartment or more flexible scheduling. No matter the size of your company, you can facilitate programs that help your employees with these needs, such as a carpool program. This shows that you understand that they have priorities outside of work.

Taking the staff out to a meal on occasion or arranging happy hours after work can also help foster a familial culture.

On a more basic and personable level, asking questions about your employees’ lives away from work shows a desire to relate to them as human beings. Asking about their children, relationships, progress in school, leisure-time activities, and even hopes and dreams can’t help but knit people together. Owners and managers might also donate to or volunteer for an employee’s favorite cause or community organization.

Working hard to make teamwork a priority — even to the point of inviting team members to take part in shared activities like hikes or camping — can forge a host of strong relationships. Frequent staff meetings in which employees are given progress reports, invited to offer suggestions and speak out against current policies also generate good will.

Sharing responsibilities with staff members shows trust, and will also lead to greater confidence and loyalty.

Additionally, recognition is always appreciated. Finding ways to let employees know that you value their work, such as recognizing them on social media, at company meetings or through emails, can go a long way in making employees feel important in their roles.

When employees know that their employer is, in fact, there for them, they become better at their jobs. Because retail workers devote so much time to their jobs, their colleagues and management take on the role of a social community. Taking these and other steps will produce higher morale, improved productivity and higher levels of loyalty and dedication.