The $47 Billion Problem
Every Australian Business Must Solve
Staff Retention Strategies: Turn the Turnover Tide
Australian small and medium-sized enterprises lose $47 billion annually to staff turnover, yet many still overlook retention as a core business strategy.
At 90percent Consulting, we help you shift from reactive fixes to proactive, evidence-based retention strategies.
Why Our Approach Works:
Led by an organisational psychologist with deep expertise in workforce wellbeing
Focused on the root causes of turnover—not just the symptoms
Aligned with the Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice
Because 90% leaves room for continuous improvement and exceptional retention requires ongoing commitment to employee wellbeing
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Because 90% leaves room for continuous improvement and exceptional retention requires ongoing commitment to employee wellbeing ·
The Current Retention Crisis
The statistics paint a stark picture: Australian organisations recorded their highest employee turnover rate in more than five years in 2022, at 21.4 per cent, whilst the average turnover rate for the first half of 2024 was 10.8 per cent. However, organisational confidence fell by 4.5 points, indicating employees are losing trust in leadership, suggesting retention challenges will intensify.
The financial impact extends beyond replacement costs: hiring times have increased from 33 to 40 days, forcing organisations to bump salaries exponentially or spend more on retention efforts.
Strategic Retention Through Psychosocial Risk Management
Under WHS laws, employers (PCBUs) are required to eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks as far as reasonably practicable.
The Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice 2024 identifies 17 key hazards—many of which, when unmanaged, lead directly to high staff turnover.
Key Psychosocial Hazards Affecting Retention:
Job demands and workload pressures
Role clarity and conflicting demands
Poor organisational justice and change management
Inadequate reward and recognition systems
Poor workplace relationships and support
Job insecurity, fatigue, and intrusive surveillance
Evidence-Based
Retention Framework
Systematic Risk Assessment
We conduct comprehensive assessments to identify psychosocial hazards that drive turnover, using validated tools to measure job satisfaction, engagement, and retention risk factors.Targeted Intervention Strategies
Our approach addresses both immediate retention risks and underlying systemic issues, ensuring sustainable improvements in employee retention and wellbeing.Compliance Integration
All retention strategies align with Code of Practice requirements, ensuring your organisation meets WHS obligations whilst achieving business objectives.
Comprehensive Retention Solutions
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Leadership Development for Retention
Equip Managers to Keep Top Talent
Poor management is consistently identified as the primary reason employees leave. Our leadership development programmes focus on retention-critical skills including recognition, feedback, career development, and psychosocial risk management.
Management Focus Areas:
Conducting effective performance conversations
Providing meaningful recognition and career development
Managing workload and preventing burnout
Creating psychological safety and trust
Implementing flexible work arrangements
Early identification of retention risks
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Organisational Culture Enhancement
Build Workplaces Where People Choose to Stay
Culture is the foundation of retention. We help organisations create environments characterised by trust, respect, growth opportunities, and genuine care for employee wellbeing.
Culture Transformation Elements:
Values alignment and behavioural standards
Communication systems and feedback loops
Recognition and reward programme design
Work-life integration policies
Career development pathways
Inclusive practice implementation
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Psychosocial Hazard Management
Address the Root Causes of Turnover
Many retention issues stem from unmanaged psychosocial hazards. Our systematic approach identifies and mitigates these risks, creating healthier work environments that naturally improve retention.
Hazard Management Strategies:
Workload assessment and redistribution
Role clarity and conflict resolution
Change management and communication improvement
Organisational justice and fairness systems
Support system enhancement
Fatigue and stress prevention programmes
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Data-Driven Retention Analytics
Measure What Matters for Retention
We establish comprehensive metrics to track retention risk factors, enabling proactive intervention before valuable employees decide to leave.
Key Retention Indicators:
Employee engagement and satisfaction scores
Exit interview analysis and trend identification
Psychosocial risk assessment results
Manager effectiveness ratings
Career development participation rates
Work-life balance and wellbeing metrics
Industry-Specific
Retention Challenges
Mining, Oil & Gas
Address the unique retention challenges of remote operations, FIFO/DIDO arrangements, and safety-critical environments through targeted strategies that support both operational excellence and employee wellbeing.Defence Sector
Develop retention strategies that respect military culture whilst addressing modern workforce expectations around career development, work-life integration, and psychological safety.
Community Services
Combat the high turnover rates in emotionally demanding roles through trauma-informed retention strategies, supervision models, and sustainable workload management.Corporate & Regional Businesses
Create scalable retention strategies that work across diverse locations and teams, ensuring consistent application of evidence-based retention principles.
Return on Investment with Staff Retention
Reduced Recruitment Costs: Every retained employee saves thousands in recruitment, training, and lost productivity costs.
Enhanced Productivity: Engaged, long-term employees consistently outperform their counterparts and contribute to improved team performance.
Knowledge Retention: Prevent the loss of critical organisational knowledge and client relationships that walk out the door with departing employees.
Employer Brand Strengthening: High retention rates enhance your reputation as an employer of choice, attracting top talent and reducing recruitment difficulties.
Compliance Risk Reduction: Proactive psychosocial risk management reduces legal exposure whilst demonstrating genuine commitment to employee wellbeing.
Our Proven Retention Process
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1. Comprehensive Retention Audit
Systematic assessment of current retention rates, exit interview data, and psychosocial risk factors to identify improvement opportunities.
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2. Evidence-Based Strategy Development
Co-designed retention strategies that address identified risks whilst aligning with organisational values and Code of Practice requirements.
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3. Implementation and Change Management
Structured rollout of retention initiatives with manager training, communication strategies, and change support.
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4. Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
Regular assessment of retention metrics and strategy effectiveness, with ongoing refinement based on results and emerging best practices.
Why Choose 90percent Consulting?
Ready to Transform
Your Retention Rates?
Don’t let top talent slip away.
Contact Us Today to explore your challenges and opportunities.