Why Keeping People Matters More Than Ever

There’s a crisis occurring across our workforce—and no, it has nothing to do with AI. It’s a human crisis, unfolding most intensely in sectors that deeply rely on humanity: social services, government, nonprofits, and education.

While we often label it an "employee retention" issue, it's fundamentally about a shortage of humanity. Let’s explore what employee retention really means, why it matters, and how workplaces can start to truly value their employees.

What is Employee Retention?

Employee retention is the ability of a company, organization, or department to keep people coming back to their jobs, day after day. At its core, it’s about **not losing your people when you need them most**.

How to Measure Employee Retention?

Employee retention can seem abstract, but it can—and should—be measured clearly. Typically, organizations look at **turnover rates**, or how many people leave their roles in a given period.

But retention measurement should go beyond simple turnover rates. Consider measuring factors such as employee engagement, morale, and satisfaction through regular anonymous surveys, feedback sessions, or one-on-one conversations.

Take note not only of how many people are leaving, but **who** is leaving. Are you losing newer employees, seasoned veterans, or entire departments? Identify patterns to understand deeper cultural and structural issues. Measuring retention effectively means listening carefully to your employees' experiences—not just counting empty desks.

Why Does Employee Retention Matter?

If you work anywhere near human services—whether it’s at a nonprofit, in government, or the corporate world—chances are you’ve noticed a troubling trend: **people are leaving**.

New employees, who arrived filled with excitement and energy, are packing up their desks just as quickly as they set them up. Meanwhile, seasoned employees are leaving too, their disappointment casting a shadow over the entire office.

These departures create a **workload crisis**: positions remain vacant, forcing remaining employees to carry additional burdens. But perhaps even more devastating is the **morale crisis**. As people continue to leave, those who remain wonder if it's even worth investing themselves fully in their workplace.

Why Do Companies Experience Low Retention?

The reasons for declining employee retention are often speculated upon. We talk about generational shifts in attitudes toward work, the impact of the pandemic on work-life values, and broad cultural trends.

And yes, these shifts exist, and workplaces must adapt. But at the core of the retention crisis lies an even deeper issue: **a lack of humanity—or space for one’s humanity—in the workplace**.

What Can HR Do to Retain Employees?

We all understand that people want to feel valued. Yet, too often workplaces only value **the parts of employees that directly benefit the company**. Unfortunately, that might not be the part of the employee longing to feel valued.

When we reward employees through raises, promotions, or recognition focused exclusively on their contribution to the company, it feels transactional. Instead, HR departments should begin to tune into the parts of the employee that seek recognition and meaning—and then actively nurture those aspects.

Maybe your accountant has a creative side that's never allowed to flourish. Perhaps your client-facing staff has brilliant policy ideas rarely acknowledged. By inviting employees to bring their whole selves to work, we reduce the likelihood they'll feel compelled to leave simply to reclaim their humanity.

How Can Human Solidarity Improve Employee Retention?

It's estimated the average person spends **one-third of their life at work**. We naturally seek workplaces that affirm our humanity, invest in our growth, and don't require us to cut off essential parts of ourselves.

By creating environments that intentionally grow humanity rather than diminish it, we cultivate thriving, sustainable workplaces. These become workplaces where employees leaving at the end of the day are genuinely excited to return tomorrow.

Final Thoughts

At its heart, employee retention isn't just about numbers or vacancies—it's about the human beings behind every desk. When workplaces begin to recognize and nurture the full humanity of their employees, retention transforms from a crisis into an opportunity.

It's an opportunity to build workplaces that people truly love—places they return to, day after day, eager to contribute their whole selves.