# How to Retain Your Manufacturing Workforce w/ Dan Johnston

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2022-02-09
- Length: 31m
- Episode: 88
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-09-how-to-retain-your-manufacturing-workforce-w-dan-johnston
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-4118899b-7560-44e3-88ce-38236e76ceaf

## Summary

Dan Johnston, Co-Founder and CEO of WorkStep, explains how supply chain labor shortages drive broader disruptions and why manufacturing turnover has accelerated due to the rise of gig work and shifting societal norms. He argues that career growth, rather than just pay, is the primary driver of retention and warns against making hiring decisions based on C-suite opinions without data. Johnston details the true cost of turnover, ranging from $8,000 to $50,000 per event, and advocates for real-time feedback platforms to identify specific pain points and improve retention.

## Chapters

- [1:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-09-how-to-retain-your-manufacturing-workforce-w-dan-johnston#t=64) Introduction: Dan Johnston and WorkStep
- [3:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-09-how-to-retain-your-manufacturing-workforce-w-dan-johnston#t=188) The Link Between Labor Shortages and Supply Chain Disruption
- [6:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-09-how-to-retain-your-manufacturing-workforce-w-dan-johnston#t=365) Drivers of the Great Resignation and Turnover
- [9:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-09-how-to-retain-your-manufacturing-workforce-w-dan-johnston#t=571) Career Growth as the Primary Retention Driver
- [19:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-09-how-to-retain-your-manufacturing-workforce-w-dan-johnston#t=1150) Calculating the True Cost of Turnover
- [24:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-09-how-to-retain-your-manufacturing-workforce-w-dan-johnston#t=1474) Strategies for Retention and Real-Time Feedback

## Topics

- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- WorkStep (product)
- Insta EDU (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Uber (company)
- Instacart (company)
- DoorDash (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [164: How to Cut Turnover in Half by Leveraging Data and Empowering Frontline Leaders with Mike White, Founder & President of Secchi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-12-19-164-how-to-cut-turnover-in-half-by-leveraging-data-and-empowering-frontline-lead) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [All Things HR and Manufacturing with TriNet’s Kristin Russum](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-01-12-all-things-hr-and-manufacturing-with-trinets-kristin-russum) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [BONUS: 3 Takeaways from the 2020 A3 Business Forum](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-02-10-bonus-3-takeaways-from-the-2020-a3-business-forum) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [287: The Art of Precision Manufacturing: Why Humans Still Matter on the Factory Floor | Live from The Manufacturing Exchange in Rochester, NY (Powered by Fathom)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-05-12-287-the-art-of-precision-manufacturing-why-humans-still-matter-on-the-factory-fl) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Bonus Episode - The EMS (Eric Miscoll Show) - Talent: Attracting, Training, and Retaining it and Mitigating Scarcity](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-24-bonus-episode-the-ems-eric-miscoll-show-talent-attracting-training-and-retaining) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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