Employee Attrition

Employee attrition happens when workers leave an organization and the company does not replace them, so the workforce gradually shrinks. That can happen through resignations, retirements, or employer-initiated separations, without anyone immediately hired to fill the gap.

Attrition covers both voluntary departures, where employees choose to leave, and involuntary separations, where the employer initiates it. Some attrition is a normal part of running a business, but a high rate can point to deeper problems in the workplace.