Let’s be honest—if your employee retention strategy boils down to “Let’s hope they stick around,” you’re not leading a team... you’re spinning the ‘Retention Roulette’ wheel and crossing your fingers.

And in today’s job market, that gamble is costing companies more than just a few good people. It’s draining morale, productivity, and profit faster than you can say, “Where did everyone go?”

According to theNational Workplace Trends Study, 42% of Gen Z employees plan to leave their jobs in the next 12 months. That’s nearly half of your up-and-coming workforce shopping for new places to work while still at your company. And they’re not the only ones with itchy feet: 29% of all employees say they wouldn’t even recommend their current workplace. Ouch!

So if you’re not asking, “Why would my top talent stay?”, you’re already losing them.

Let’s break down the game board and show you how to stop gambling and start retaining.

The Top 5 Ways Companies Are Losing at Retention

1. Promoting a Culture Without Purpose

If your mission statement is collecting more dust than data, you’ve got a problem. 80%  of American workers say a sense of purpose is essential for job satisfaction. And for Gen Z? That jumps to a whopping 73%. If your employees don’t know why they’re working beyond a paycheck, don’t expect them to stay for one, because ‘Paycheck’ employees don’t stay long-term.

2. Not Providing Growth Opportunities

It’s not enough to offer “career potential” on paper. Employees want to see real, tangible growth, and they want more than a promotion… they want both personal and professional development. 81% believe that successful companies prioritize learning and development. And 64% of Gen X and Boomers say not getting regular pay increases are deal-breakers. No growth = no loyalty.

3. Leadership That’s MIA

Employees don’t leave jobs, they leave bad leaders and toxic workplace cultures. 57% of employees report that distrustful leaders drive them to consider leaving. And here’s the kicker, 52% would take a pay cut to work for a leader they respect. Yes, they’d literally leave money on the table for a better boss.

4. No Sense of Belonging

This isn’t summer camp, but people still want to feel like they belong. 43% of employees say trust in colleagues is essential to retention, and 57% cite supportive cultures as a must-have. If your team feels more like an episode on a reality TV show, you’ve got work to do.

5. Wellness Is an Afterthought

Your employees are stressed out. In fact, 74% say today’s workplace is more stressful than it was 10 years ago. And if you're still thinking wellness means a once-a-year yoga class in the breakroom, you’re missing the mark. Today’s workforce demands work-life balance, mental health support, and leaders who recognize burnout before it hits crisis mode.

How to Stop Spinning the Retention Wheel

Want to become a Destination Workplace™ where people line up to stay instead of plan their exit? Start with these five moves:

• Put Purpose on Display: Tie your mission to everyday tasks and highlight how employees contribute to something bigger.
  
  
• Map the Journey: Offer clear career paths with milestones and regular check-ins. Growth shouldn’t be a guessing game.
  
  
• Train Your Leaders Like It’s an Olympic Sport: Equip managers with the tools and strategies to coach, mentor, and communicate with clarity and compassion.
  
  
• Build Real Teams: Prioritize trust-building, fair conflict resolution, and authentic recognition.
  
  
• Invest in Well-being: Create a culture that respects boundaries, supports mental and physical health, and invests in addressing burnout to stay proactive.

Let’s Be Clear: Retention Isn’t HR’s Job Anymore. It’s Leadership’s Job.

And that’s where Betsy Allen-Manning steps in. As the founder & CEO of Destination Workplace™, and one of the top leadership speakers in Dallas, Texas, Betsy has trained over 15,000 leaders and teams to stop bleeding talent and start building legacy workplaces.

Want to stop playing Retention Roulette and start winning the talent game?

Reach out to work with Betsy at   www.DestinationWorkplace.com

About Betsy: Featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, and ABC, Betsy Allen-Manning is a leadership keynote speaker, workplace culture expert, and best-selling author who helps executives and HR leaders strengthen employee engagement, improve retention, and prepare for the future of work. Betsy’s thought leadership and original research in the National Workplace Trends Study and the Destination Workplace™ framework equips organizations with data-driven strategies to build cultures where people apply, engage, contribute, and stay. She is also the founder of an award-winning company known for providing top leadership training in Dallas, and is recognized for advancing leadership excellence and driving workplace culture transformations worldwide.