Employee retention – keeping valued employees engaged and on board – has become a critical priority for organizations.

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This playbook provides a comprehensive guide to understanding why retention matters, what aspects to focus on, and how to implement effective retention strategies. By the end, HR leaders will have a clearer roadmap to reduce unwanted turnover and build a more resilient, engaged workforce.

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We’ll explore:

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See how top DACH companies keep their best people.

https://www.peopleix.com/en/get-started?utm_source=playbook&utm_medium=notion&utm_campaign=retention

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Additional resources

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How you can prompt our AI

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More insights from our Data Lab

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Why You Should Care About Retention

High employee turnover is not just a HR issue – it’s a strategic business problem with significant costs and consequences.

Studies estimate that replacing a single employee can cost between 90% and 200% of that employee’s annual salary.

In other words, losing a talented professional earning €60k can easily cost €54k–€120k in total turnover costs.

Beyond direct costs, high turnover undermines organisational performance. It disrupts projects, strains remaining staff, and can erode institutional knowledge. Critically, it also signals deeper issues in the employee experience. If too many people are leaving, it often points to problems in culture, management, or growth opportunities that need addressing.

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In short: Every avoidable resignation slows you down – financially and operationally.

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What You Should Care About: Key Retention Metrics and Drivers

To get a grip on retention, HR leaders should track the right metrics and understand the root causes behind employee departures.