7 tips for retention-boosting ‘stay interviews’

Published 2 Min Read

Workers across the U.S. are questioning why they should stay with their current employer — but should employers ask their talent the same question? That’s where the stay interview comes in.

The stay interview helps managers understand how employees feel about their current role and growth opportunities, ideally before the employee would even consider looking elsewhere. According to Willis Towers Watson’s 2022 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey, 44% of employees are searching for new jobs in the name of better pay and benefits, hinting at the great resignation’s longevity.

Rather than starting a stay interview with questions surrounding retention, managers should voice a few observations about the employee’s performance and challenges they recently encountered. This shows that the manager is aware of who this employee is as an individual and has a vested interest in them, explains Grimaldi.

“A common mistake interviewers make is asking about that employee’s happiness at the company without building any rapport or sense of trust,” she says. “If people don’t feel comfortable, they won’t share.”

Deanna Cuadra
Senior Reporter

Deanna Cuadra is a senior reporter at Employee Benefit News. Her work covers healthcare, U.S. policy and reform, challenges faced by women and parents in the workplace and innovation in work culture … Read full bio


For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.


More From Employee Benefit News

Sign Up Form

Login Modal Form