Ah, the infamous question: “What’s HR doing about retention?”—usually asked by a leader with a pristine track record of zero accountability. You know the type. They often feel that HR is solely responsible for waving a magical wand to keep their staff from fleeing faster than kids on the last day of school. It's almost as if employee retention is some mystical art, and HR is the only keeper of the secrets.
Let's be honest: these conversations can be as enjoyable as watching paint dry. While retention is certainly something HR influences, it’s not something we can magically control with a fancy PowerPoint or an occasional pizza party. So, how do you handle these situations? Let's break it down with humor, practical advice, and maybe a dash of truth-telling for those low-accountability leaders.
The Eye-Roll Moment: When Leaders Pass the Buck
Picture this: You're in a leadership meeting. Sales is discussing numbers, Operations is sharing their challenges, and then, like clockwork, it happens. The leader of the group—who's probably ghosted half their team for the past quarter—turns to you, the HR representative, and casually drops the dreaded line:
“So, what’s HR doing about all this turnover?”
Cue the collective HR eye roll.
Of course, it would be amazing if HR alone could fix retention, but retention isn't like flipping a light switch. It’s tied to leadership, engagement, culture, compensation, and, yes, actual accountability from managers themselves. The real kicker? It’s usually the same leaders asking these questions who have the highest turnover on their own teams.
Here's What HR Should Really Say (But Probably Won't)
Let’s fantasize for a second about what we wish we could say in response:
“Well, actually, Bob, retention starts with you. Perhaps if you spent more time engaging with your team and less time asking HR to fix your leadership problems, we’d have fewer people jumping ship.”
But alas, we live in the real world, where diplomacy reigns supreme. So, we smile and nod, biting our tongue while strategizing how to gently explain the complexity of retention.
What Actually Drives Retention (Spoiler: It’s Not Just HR)
While HR can build the framework, the real retention magic happens day-to-day within teams, directly influenced by managers. Here’s why:
1. Managers Matter More Than We Admit
Study after study shows that people don’t leave companies—they leave managers. If employees feel unsupported, underappreciated, or ignored by their boss, no amount of HR wizardry will make them stick around. Managers are the ones in the trenches with their teams every day, and their influence is critical in shaping an employee's experience.
2. Company Culture Isn't Created by HR Alone
HR can talk about culture all day, but it’s leaders who live it. If a company promotes a "people-first" culture but leaders don’t walk the walk, employees notice. The CEO can post inspiring messages about wellness and work-life balance, but if direct supervisors expect employees to answer emails at 11 p.m., that message gets lost quickly.
3. Recognition and Accountability Go Hand in Hand
People want to be recognized for their contributions and held accountable for their work. However, recognition has to be genuine. It’s not something that should only come from a quarterly HR-led survey or company-wide award. When managers don’t recognize their team's contributions or shy away from difficult conversations about accountability, employees feel undervalued and disengaged.
4. Compensation Is Important, But It’s Not Everything
Sure, pay matters. But often, employees leave not just because of pay but because of a lack of development opportunities, poor management, or feeling disconnected from the company’s mission. HR can help leaders understand market compensation trends, but if the rest of the employee experience is poor, no pay increase is going to solve the retention puzzle.
The "Fix Your Leadership" Checklist
For those low-accountable leaders who might feel like HR has all the answers to retention, let’s lay down some gentle but firm truths. Here’s a handy checklist they should consider before directing the "retention" conversation solely at HR:
Do You Know Your Employees’ Career Goals?
Employees stick around when they see a future within the organization. Have you taken the time to sit down with them and discuss their aspirations? If not, they’ll likely find an employer who does.
When Was the Last Time You Gave Meaningful Feedback?
A “great job” email doesn’t cut it. Frequent, meaningful feedback helps employees feel seen and valued. If you’re not giving your team the direction and feedback they need, they may feel adrift.
Are You Fostering a Positive Team Environment?
Toxicity drives turnover. If your team’s morale is low, it’s worth reflecting on how your behavior may be contributing to that. Does your team feel psychologically safe? Can they bring up concerns without fear of backlash? HR can give you tools to improve team dynamics, but it’s up to you to create an environment where people want to stay.
Are You Leading by Example?
Leadership isn’t just about delegating tasks. It’s about being someone your team can look up to. If you’re disengaged, why should they be engaged? If you’re frequently absent, unapproachable, or inconsistent, don’t be surprised when they check out too.
Partnering with HR (Not Dumping on HR)
Now, let's be clear: HR *does* play a pivotal role in retention strategies, but it's a partnership. HR's expertise in shaping policies, creating employee development programs, and improving workplace culture is invaluable. However, HR can only provide the resources—leaders have to apply them.
Here’s how HR and leadership can team up for retention success:
Leadership Training: HR can provide workshops or coaching on how to be an effective leader. Trust me, sometimes a little self-awareness goes a long way!
Pulse Surveys: HR can implement employee engagement surveys to gather honest feedback. But leaders need to actually *act* on that feedback, not dismiss it as “just another HR thing.”
Clear Development Paths: HR can help build career development programs that leaders can use to keep employees engaged and motivated. But again, it’s on leaders to facilitate these conversations and guide their team members along these paths.
The Retention Conundrum: Accountability Is Key
When low-accountable leaders ask, “What’s HR doing about retention?” they’re often looking for a quick fix—one that doesn’t involve them taking a long, hard look in the mirror. But the reality is that retention is a shared responsibility. HR can provide the tools, the data, and the strategy, but leaders must step up, engage with their teams, and take accountability for their part.
So the next time you’re asked this eye-roll-inducing question, remember: it’s not all on HR. And while you may need to diplomatically steer the conversation, don’t hesitate to shine a spotlight on the truth: retention begins and ends with leadership accountability.
Wrapping it Up: The Real Question Leaders Should Be Asking
Instead of “What’s HR doing about retention?” maybe the better question is: “What can I, as a leader, do to keep my people engaged and committed?” Because, in the end, retention isn't just about programs and policies—it’s about people. And people stay where they feel valued, supported, and led by someone who’s actually invested in their growth and success.
Now, that’s a retention strategy we can all get behind!
