Rate of Attrition Formula:

ATTRITION RATE (%) = (number of leaves ÷ number of employees) x 100

You can see that the rate of attrition is described as a percentage of your total workforce. By tracking attrition rates from one year to the next, you can identify patterns and pinpoint high or low points in employee retention.

Attrition is closely related to employee turnover or churn rate. However, turnover has more to do with the culture that you create within your company and the frequency of hiring and quitting/firing. Attrition is more concerned with the big picture and the numerical change in your workforce.

How to Lower Your Attrition Rates:

$5,000.00 USD
11 Months

Effective steps on how to lower your company attrition rates.

1. 

Take a holistic approach.

1.1 

Pay attention to employee satisfaction.

Pay attention to employee satisfaction.

As they say, the simplest explanation is usually the best. Often, the reason that employees leave a company for a new work opportunity is that they aren't happy where they are. Maybe they don't like the company culture, feel unappreciated, or would like to take on new responsibilities in their job.

You can mitigate all of these factors by making employee satisfaction a priority. Check out our article on employee engagement to learn more about how you can ensure that your employees are satisfied.

1.2 

Offer competitive compensation.

Offer competitive compensation.

People are far less likely to head for the exit if you can pay them as much as or more than your competitors. A qualified employee has little reason to remain loyal to you if they could make more money somewhere else.

Do some market research to determine what the average earnings are for people in your industry so that you can compensate your employees competitively. This is usually done by a compensation analyst.

1.3 

Hire for the long term.

Hire for the long term.

Good hiring practices can help to prevent high attrition rates in the future. When you hire new employees, evaluate them thoroughly to make sure that they are a good fit not only for the position but for the culture of your organization. One of the best interview questions that you can ask is, "How long do you see yourself in this role?" Essentially, you should dig deeper to find out if the candidate is ready to make a long-term commitment to work for you.

The Bottom Line:

Attrition is an important HR metric that can tell you a lot about the direction of your business and possible problems that you may need to address. You can use these simple tips to help lower your attrition rate and keep the same employees in place for years to come.

FAQs:

What does employee attrition mean?

The attrition rate is a calculation of the number of individuals that leave or move out of a business over a specified time frame.

What is the difference between employee turnover and attrition?

Both terms are used when an employee leaves a company but with a difference in processes, such as discharge, termination, or resignation. Attrition occurs when an employee retires or when the employer terminates the job position. When employee turnover occurs, the employers look for a replacement.

What is a good employee attrition rate?

A good, average turnover rate is around 10%.

How do I calculate attrition?

Attrition can be calculated by multiplying the number of employees who have left by your total number of employees and multiplying the result by 100. The formula is: Attrition rate (%) = (number of leaves ÷ number of employees) x 100.

What are some effective methods to reduce a high attrition rate?

  1. Recruit and hire the right people.
  2. Offer benefits and compensation.
  3. Offer flexibility.
  4. Pay attention to employee engagement.
  5. Recognize and reward employees.

What is the difference between attrition and retention?

A retention rate is the percentage of employees your business has retained over a specified time period. An attrition rate looks at the exact opposite or retention. The attrition rate shows the percentage of employees you lost and did not replace.

Related Articles:

Employee Satisfaction Survey

A comprehensive guide to creating an employee satisfaction survey.

Employee Retention Strategies

Six employee retention strategies to help create a sustainable work environment.

Employee Evaluation

How to Conduct an Effective Employee Evaluation.

Employee Engagement Strategies

Effective strategies to keep employees engaged and productive.

What is Employee Turnover?

Discover what employee turnover is, average turnover rates by industry, answers to frequently asked questions, and more.