What HR metric counts the number of employees who leave for reasons such as resignation, termination, retirement, sickness, or death?

What HR metric counts the number of employees who leave for reasons such as resignation, termination, retirement, sickness, or death?

• A. Turnover
• B. Retention
• C. Attrition
• D. Separation

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is measuring how many people leave the organization over time. Attrition captures departures that reduce the workforce for reasons such as resignation, retirement, death, or long-term illness. It focuses on actual loss of staff rather than temporary absences or all possible exits, making it the best fit for counting those specific ways people leave. Turnover is broader, encompassing all separations (including terminations and other nonnatural exits) and is often used to gauge overall churn. Separation is simply the act of leaving, not a metric, and retention is about keeping employees.

The main idea here is measuring how many people leave the organization over time. Attrition captures departures that reduce the workforce for reasons such as resignation, retirement, death, or long-term illness. It focuses on actual loss of staff rather than temporary absences or all possible exits, making it the best fit for counting those specific ways people leave. Turnover is broader, encompassing all separations (including terminations and other nonnatural exits) and is often used to gauge overall churn. Separation is simply the act of leaving, not a metric, and retention is about keeping employees.