Personnel turnover refers to the rate at which employees leave and are replaced within an organization. The spelling of the word is phonetically represented as /pərˈsɒn(ə)l ˈtɜːnəvə/. The first syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound, followed by a stressed syllable with a long "e" sound. The second word is pronounced with a schwa sound followed by a long "o" sound and a short "u" sound. The final syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound followed by a short "a" sound. The spelling reflects the specific pronunciation of each syllable in the word.
Personnel turnover refers to the rate at which employees leave and are replaced within an organization over a specific period of time. It is a measure that quantifies the movement of personnel within an organization, often expressed as a percentage or a ratio. Personnel turnover encompasses both voluntary and involuntary departures, including resignations, retirements, terminations, layoffs, and transfers.
High personnel turnover can be a cause for concern as it can indicate issues such as poor employee morale, dissatisfaction with the work environment, lack of career development opportunities, inadequate compensation or benefits, or ineffective management. It can result in various negative consequences for an organization, including increased costs associated with recruitment, hiring, and training of new employees, decreased productivity due to constant turnover and new employee onboarding, and potential loss of institutional knowledge and experience.
On the other hand, low personnel turnover is generally seen as a positive indicator, suggesting that employees are satisfied with their jobs and the organization, leading to higher levels of employee engagement, improved productivity, and better retention of skilled and experienced staff.
To manage personnel turnover effectively, organizations often conduct exit interviews to identify the reasons for employee departures, analyze turnover rates by department or position to pinpoint areas of concern, and implement strategies to improve employee satisfaction and retention, such as offering competitive compensation packages, providing opportunities for growth and development, fostering a positive work culture, and implementing employee recognition and rewards programs.
The etymology of the word "personnel turnover" can be broken down as follows:
1. Personnel: The word "personnel" comes from the French word "personnel", which means "staff" or "personnel". It is derived from the Latin word "persona", which refers to a "mask" or "character" worn by actors during a performance. The word "persona" further originates from the Etruscan word "phersu", meaning "mask". Over time, "personnel" came to encompass the individuals employed in an organization or workforce.
2. Turnover: The word "turnover" originated from the practice of merchants turning over their inventory, especially perishable goods, to maintain freshness and circulation. In the context of business, "turnover" refers to the rate at which personnel leave a company and are replaced, hence the term "personnel turnover".