When we think of retention tools, we think of perks and benefits, we often talk about free lunches and foosball tables, but in a time when these things are now very common or not as feasible since many workers began working from home in 2020, how can a company hold onto its top talent?

And yes, maybe that foosball table is part of it, but retention really begins with a company that values and prioritizes kindness, empathy, and compassion. It’s not as flashy as a game room, onsite gym, or nap pods, but let’s face it—there’s no harm in being kind. A simple thank you goes a long way and often costs nothing—which is incredibly budget friendly. Regardless of if you’re a Fortune 1000 company or a small business it doesn’t take much to cultivate a workplace based around kindness.

You’ve gone through the entire interview process and your ideal candidate has continually impressed you and made it to the offer round. You extend what you feel is a lucrative offer of employment, only to receive a polite “Thank you for the offer but I have to decline”. Why did that happen? You thought you found your dream employee and they seemed eager to take the role only to turn it down in the end. Here are a few reasons why candidates may be rejecting your job offers.