Understanding and Reducing Employee Turnover

In short: Understanding what's driving turnover involves asking employees in a way that gets honest answers, identifying what can be changed, and acting on what you learn.

Good people keep leaving and the exit numbers don't say why. These pages cover what usually drives turnover when pay is competitive, how to find out what employees need, whether outside help is worth it, why surveys so often change nothing, and what turnover is really costing you.

5 Questions About Understanding and Reducing Employee Turnover

Why do good employees keep leaving when we pay competitively?

Good employees keep leaving despite competitive pay because pay is rarely the whole story.

How do I find out what my employees actually need?

You find out what your employees need by deciding what you're trying to understand first, then asking in conditions where people can answer honestly.

Is our turnover problem worth bringing in outside help?

Bringing in outside help for a turnover problem can be especially valuable when you don't know why people are leaving, or why others are staying.

We ran an engagement survey and nothing changed. What went wrong?

If you ran an engagement survey and nothing changed, the problem is usually in one of two places. First, the survey may not have produced useful information.

What is turnover actually costing us?

Turnover can cost more than what shows up on a single budget line because many of its costs are spread across the organization.

Related Topics

Insights & Answers 01 / Topic 1D

What Makes a Job Worth Staying For: Growth, Recognition, and Meaningful Work

Pay matters, but it isn't the whole retention story. Growth, recognition, and meaningful work can shape whether employees see a future with your organization.

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