This newsletter has touched on the value, and increasing necessity, of building employee retention programs, but the impetus is much greater this year if you don't want to lose a significant portion of your staff. A study reports that one-third of IT workers are on the hunt for a new job this year. That bodes well for prospering IT departments looking to hire, but it's scary news for those who aren't building up staff forces and likely have very tight budgets that don't include retainment and incentive-to-stay monies. But what's important about the study is that the workers looking to move on aren't looking for more money, but a better work-life balance and lighter work loads. That is something every IT leader, no matter how big or small their budget and company may be, can do something about without spending a dime. A good first step is to review every employee's work load and how it might have changed from the past year and spend some time talking with staffers one-on-one about their roles and responsibilities. If you do identify someone who feels they're overloaded, the next step is to work with them to help identify how to change that scenario. Just the action and consideration into the issue is bound to boost morale and help keep valued workers happy and on board.

In the meantime, here are some recent career announcements about colleagues taking on new leadership roles and other professional moves:

Alan Wade, the CIO of the Central Intelligence Agency, has announced he's retiring his post after 36 years of service with the federal agency.

Several IT leadership changes are taking place at JetBlue Airways: Tom Anderson, once senior VP of Technical Operations, Aircraft Programs and LiveTV, has been named senior VP of Supply Chain and LiveTV. Holly Nelson is now senior VP and Controller.

At Dunkin' Donuts, Dan Sheehan is the new VP and CIO. 

Robert McFarland, CIO at the Department of Veterans Affairs, is retiring.

United Airlines CIO Garry Kelly has been given additional responsibilities for directing strategic sourcing, industrial and process engineering and operations research.