Singapore - Instilling a competitive streak in employees is one way Cherie Hearts keeps staff motivated for "free".

Gurchran Singh, Cherie Hearts Group International's co-founder and group president, says this "will to win" - to be the best childcare provider - creates passion and pride in his employees. This culture had started from winning the very first award in its second year of operations. Singh says, "When we received the award, my staff came up to me and say ‘Can we go for more of such awards?' It was the moment I felt we are a team."

Participating in subsequent awards since has inspired his staff to continuously work as a team to bring out the best of the organisation. Speaking at a Human Resources event on strategic HR in a downturn yesterday, Singh says this strong sense of pride and teamwork keeps the entire employee population motivated and the business profitable. "It's a loop. If your staff are happy, your business will keep expanding. When your business expands, you will need more staff."

The childcare provider is also particular about staff growth so employees, especially senior management, are encouraged to move within the organisation to further develop their career in the company. Senior executives or second liners will usually be redeployed to another function every few years, Singh says. "We don't want staff to stay in a place for too long unless they want to. Our needs change over time and we allow that in Cherie Hearts."

Likewise, the childcare provider provides free childcare services to its entire staff as a retention tool. With monthly childcare fees averaging at least $750, Singh says this is another "free" way to keep parents working for him happy at work because they treat the company as a second home. "They have ownership and take up more responsibility at work."

But no matter what a company chooses to use as a retention strategy, Singh says, "It's always possible to tailor to your staff's needs, even in this economic downturn."