A Practical HR Guide to Employee Retention

2026 is shaping up to be a critical year for retention. With voluntary turnover still impacting organizations across Canada and employees expecting more from their workplace than ever before, HR teams need clarity on what drives people to stay, and what makes them leave.

The national voluntary turnover rate averages 10.2%, but this figure masks extreme variations between sectors. Accommodation and food services see quit rates as high as 4.4%, while government sits at just 0.8%. Understanding where your organization stands is the first step to building a retention strategy that works.

Retention isn’t just an HR metric. It’s a business imperative. When employees leave, you lose institutional knowledge, productivity, team cohesion, and competitive advantage. The cost of replacing technical and senior talent can reach up to 200% of their annual salary, and that doesn’t account for the disruption to your culture and operations.

This guide cuts through the noise and gives you exactly what you need: the retention formula, industry benchmarks for Canada, a clear framework for analyzing your results, and 10 proven strategies to strengthen retention across your organization.

Inside, you’ll find:

• What retention really means and why it matters more than ever
• The latest Canadian data on voluntary turnover rates by industry
• The retention calculation formula with step-by-step instructions and examples
• How to interpret your results with a clear analysis framework
• 10 actionable strategies to reduce turnover and build a workplace people don’t want to leave

Whether you’re onboarding new managers through your Orange Program or refining your retention strategy for 2026, this guide gives you the insights and tools to make an immediate impact.

Download the guide now and start building a stronger retention strategy today.