Attrition
The gradual reduction of a workforce as employees leave and are not always replaced.
Attrition describes the natural loss of staff over time through resignation, retirement or other departures. It is often measured as a rate over a year and split into voluntary and involuntary categories.
A degree of attrition is healthy — it brings fresh perspectives and creates progression opportunities. Excessive or regrettable attrition, however, drains institutional knowledge and inflates recruitment costs.
Analysing where and why people leave, using exit interviews and HRIS data, tells employers whether they have an engagement, reward or management problem to solve.
