Absenteeism always is lowest where employees want to work. The most important issue facing workers in the steel industry today probably is security. Workers have been driven to become represented by the United Steelworkers in order to eliminate the old cycle of hiring and laying off. But some of the more successful minimills voluntarily run their mills without layoffs because they recognize that it's to their advantage to retain their workers. Minimills also are empowering their employees by handing off responsibility to them.
Workers usually stay or leave because of the way they're treated.
But they will leave because of what they consider inadequate pay and benefits or a lack of recognition or opportunity to advance. Value the people in the organization. Invest in employees. View retention as a long-term strategy. If the traditional steel mill is to operate successfully and profitably, it must heed the realities of the job market today so that it can continue to survive tomorrow.