But the attrition we all talk about generally is caused only thro resignation.It is a well know fact that IT sector leads the pack when it comes to attrition figures.Especially in India we all know that attrition rates are pretty huge.Even in small organisations with few thousands of employees atleast one person sends in a sweetly worded good bye mail everyday.Few dozens read it and smile @ themselves thinking their D day is not that long away.
Most observer feel that IT sector attrition rates are so high because of the economic boom in recent times.Because there is so much work that every tom dick and harry get offers as "10 more limp hands are better than none at all" is the attitude towards hiring in IT sector nowadays.It is true to a great extent.I feel there are two kinds of people.The perpetual movers.Who move to the next company to before settling down into one.It is because if they settle down they'll have to prove themselves, take up more reponsibility etc etc.These people are seldom productive,whatever be the work environment.The other lot are already very productive and are either learning the ropes well @ the lower levels or are the pillars of the organization at the middle level.The second kind of people leaving will bleed the organization so much more than the first kind leaving.
There is this utopian idea of process oriented organizations where people do now matter much.Many people propose that such a structure will minimize the effect attrition will have on the operations of the organization.But how far is it true?Why are people treating the symptoms while allowing the disease to spread unperturbed??
See any organization today they are recruiting at a hectic pace.Recruiting one 1-2 years expereince candidate costs the organization somewhere between 50-100k depending on the route of recruitment.(except for walkins).Plus the org has to pay for training the candidate if necessary.Plus the pay the candidate for no work he does until he settles down into work and becomes productive(If he works in the first place ;-) ).All this companies spend to keep recruiting people.Many companies are willing to bend down backwards and negotiate on all terms for getting people onboard.But how many companies make such an effort on the employee retention front.I don think companies are doing enough.
As i watch company after company in the service sector recruiting @ a rapid pace while losing employess @ much faster clips, I feel as though I am looking @ a small boy trying to fill a leaky tank frantically with little buckets.How much ever fast the tank is filled it ll keep leaking.Filling the tank is fast,easy and short term job.It can be easily measured and the HR function rewarded with incentives and fancy trips. But fixing leak is dirty job.You are bound to get wet and dirty.But it is most rewarding in the long run.For the money the companies spend on recruiting one person, they can easily retain two people, if they spend it judiciously and the right way.But all companies tend to move away from this view as it is very difficult to acheive and is not easily measurable(although fall in attrition rates can be measured.. employee's job satisfaction is difficult to measure).Hope people wake up to the reality atleast when the next Recession comes.
