Retention starts earlier than you might think; as early as onboarding new hires. Now begins the important work of creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace culture rooted in diversity and equity. Your organization now employs more individuals from historically underrepresented groups and the culture and climate of said organization will determine whether they stay. 

 

Federal bureaucrats have a history of 10 to 20% higher turnover compared to private sector employees (Borjas, 1982). Meanwhile, the cost of turnover can be estimated at 100 to 150% of a year's salary for the position (Pitts, Marvel, and Fernandez, 2011). Retention is especially important when considering diverse employees and the significant efforts an organization deploys to recruit and hire diverse candidates.

 

There are many factors that influence employee retention. While there is complexity, there are also many opportunities to influence factors and improve the retention of diverse employees. Explore the topics below to see what you and your organization can do to help retain diverse employees.