Staff retention: a major key to management's success.

The number of qualified and competent clinical laboratory sciences (CLS) professionals is rapidly declining. As competition grows and the clinical laboratory comes under greater scrutiny, the laboratories that survive will be those that recognize that their, employees are their greatest asset. However, retaining expert CLS professionals requires a dramatic change in management's belief system regarding the value of its personnel assets. Management must create a culture of empowered people who have the freedom to exhibit self-direction in achieving the organization's mission and goals. Management must consider its employees valuable enough to invest in their professional growth. A laboratory's long-term sustainability and economic performance will depend on a committed workforce that supports their organization's success.