HR resignation levels increased in 2017

No firm wants a high turnover – it’s costly, time-consuming and it damages morale. Whilst it’s often incumbent on HR to showcase to employees why it’s worth staying, data from XpertHR found that the department itself suffered from an influx of notice letters this year. 

The data, which looked at resignation and labour turnover rates, found that HR had the fourth highest voluntary resignation levels out of the groups measured this year, with rates of 8.2% - up from 7.4% in 2016 and 6.3% in 2015. Total labour turnover in HR was in fact, revealed as the third highest at 12%, falling behind publishing and events at 17% and distribution at 13.5%.

Total labour turnover covers all types of departures, including voluntary resignations, redundancies, dismissals and retirements. Across all sectors measured, the rate stands at an average 23%. Overall, the data found that one in seven (15.5%) employees voluntarily resigned from their jobs in 2016 – and that resignation rate has been steadily increasing since 2012, when it stood at 10.6%.

XpertHR senior HR Practice Editor Noelle Murphy, comments: “Monitoring staff turnover is important for all organisations so that they can respond quickly when levels reach a point that is damaging to the business. Our data on turnover rates among those with less than 12 months’ service shows just how important it is for HR to look carefully at its recruitment and selection strategy – and its onboarding process.