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    Interactive Talent Retention Playbook

    Put the three-phase retention framework into action with these interactive tools. Calculate your turnover costs, prioritize solutions, and track your progress.

    The Three-Phase Retention Framework

    Three-Phase Retention Framework: Analyze, Understand, Act
    Phase 1: Analyze

    Calculate Your Turnover Cost

    Understanding the true cost of turnover is essential for building a business case. Use this calculator to estimate how much employee departures cost your organization annually.

    Turnover Cost Calculator

    Estimate the true cost of employee turnover in your organization. Adjust the sliders to match your situation.

    $75,000

    The average salary of roles you're trying to retain

    100

    Total headcount in your organization or department

    15%

    Percentage of employees who leave annually (avg: 15-20%)

    100% of salary

    Entry-level: 50%, Mid-level: 100-150%, Senior/Technical: 200%

    Annual Turnover Impact

    With 15 departures per year at your current rate

    $1,125,000

    Estimated annual cost of turnover

    Cost Breakdown

    Separation Costs
    Exit processing, severance, admin
    $112,500
    Vacancy Costs
    Overtime, temp workers, lost productivity
    $281,250
    Replacement Costs
    Recruiting, hiring, onboarding
    $393,750
    Training Costs
    Training programs, ramp-up period
    $337,500
    15
    Expected Departures/Year
    $75,000
    Cost Per Departure
    $93,750
    Monthly Impact

    What if you reduced turnover by just 5%? That could save you $371,250 annually.

    Phase 2: Understand

    Why People Stay and Leave

    Use the Join-Stay-Leave framework to understand the full employee journey.

    The Join-Stay-Leave Framework

    Join-Stay-Leave Framework showing the employee journey

    Empathy Mapping Template

    Use this template to synthesize what you learn from employee conversations. Document what employees Say, Do, Think, and Feel.

    Empathy Map Template with Say, Do, Think, Feel quadrants
    Phase 3: Act

    Prioritize Your Solutions

    Not all solutions are created equal. Use this interactive matrix to prioritize retention initiatives based on their impact and effort. Drag solutions between quadrants or click to cycle through categories.

    Priority Matrix

    Drag solutions between quadrants or click to cycle through categories. Add your own retention initiatives to prioritize.

    IMPACT
    EFFORT

    Quick Wins

    3

    Low Effort + High ImpactDo these FIRST!

    Stay Interviews
    Recognition Program
    Flexible Work Policy

    Major Projects

    2

    High Effort + High ImpactPlan carefully

    Manager Training Program
    Career Pathing Framework

    Fill-Ins

    2

    Low Effort + Low ImpactIf time permits

    Team Lunches
    Newsletter Updates

    Avoid

    0

    High Effort + Low ImpactDeprioritize

    Drag solutions here

    Your Priority Summary

    3
    Quick Wins
    2
    Major Projects
    2
    Fill-Ins
    0
    Avoid
    Tips: Focus on Quick Wins first to build momentum. Plan Major Projects carefully with clear timelines. Move initiatives that aren't delivering results to Avoid.

    Stay Interview Flow

    Stay interviews are one of the highest-impact, lowest-effort retention tools. Follow this process to have effective conversations with your team.

    Stay Interview Process: Before, During, After

    Sample Stay Interview Questions

    • • What do you look forward to when you come to work?
    • • What are you learning here?
    • • Why do you stay?
    • • When was the last time you thought about leaving? What prompted it?
    • • What can I do to make your experience better?
    Track Your Progress

    Retention Strategy Checklist

    Work through each phase systematically. Your progress is saved automatically so you can pick up where you left off.

    Retention Strategy Checklist

    Track your progress through the three-phase retention framework. Your progress is saved automatically.

    Overall Progress0 / 18 tasks (0%)
    Remember: Retention is an ongoing process, not a one-time project. Review and update your strategy every 3-6 months as your organization evolves.

    Ready to Dive Deeper?

    Read the complete Talent Retention Playbook article for detailed explanations, research insights, and practical tips for each phase.

    Read the Full Article
    Interactive Talent Retention Playbook | CrewHR