.retention-calculator-container {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 20px auto;
padding: 20px;
background: #f9f9f9;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
}
.retention-calculator-form {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.form-group {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
}
.form-group label {
font-weight: 600;
margin-bottom: 8px;
color: #333;
}
.form-group input {
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
}
.form-group .help-text {
font-size: 12px;
color: #666;
margin-top: 4px;
}
.calc-btn {
grid-column: span 2;
background-color: #0056b3;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 15px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
}
.calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #004494;
}
.results-section {
background: white;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 4px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
margin-top: 20px;
display: none;
}
.result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
padding: 10px 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
}
.result-row:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
.result-label {
color: #555;
font-size: 16px;
}
.result-value {
font-weight: 700;
font-size: 20px;
color: #222;
}
.primary-result {
color: #28a745;
font-size: 28px;
}
.error-msg {
color: #dc3545;
text-align: center;
margin-top: 10px;
display: none;
}
.seo-content {
margin-top: 40px;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
font-family: inherit;
}
.seo-content h2 {
color: #222;
border-bottom: 2px solid #0056b3;
padding-bottom: 10px;
margin-top: 30px;
}
.seo-content h3 {
color: #444;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.seo-content ul {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.seo-content li {
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.retention-calculator-form {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
.calc-btn {
grid-column: span 1;
}
}
function calculateRetention() {
var start = document.getElementById('startCount').value;
var end = document.getElementById('endCount').value;
var hires = document.getElementById('newHires').value;
var errorDiv = document.getElementById('errorDisplay');
var resultsDiv = document.getElementById('resultsDisplay');
// Reset display
errorDiv.style.display = 'none';
resultsDiv.style.display = 'none';
errorDiv.innerHTML = "";
// Validation
if (start === "" || end === "" || hires === "") {
errorDiv.innerHTML = "Please fill in all fields.";
errorDiv.style.display = 'block';
return;
}
var startNum = parseFloat(start);
var endNum = parseFloat(end);
var hiresNum = parseFloat(hires);
if (startNum endNum) {
errorDiv.innerHTML = "New hires cannot exceed total employees at the end of the period.";
errorDiv.style.display = 'block';
return;
}
// Logic
// 1. Determine how many of the original staff remained.
// Formula: Retained = End Count – New Hires
var retainedCount = endNum – hiresNum;
// 2. Calculate Retention Rate
// Formula: (Retained / Start) * 100
var retentionRate = (retainedCount / startNum) * 100;
// 3. Calculate Separations (People who left)
// Formula: Start – Retained
var separations = startNum – retainedCount;
// 4. Calculate Turnover Rate (Standard BLS Calculation)
// Formula: (Separations / Average Employees) * 100
var averageEmployees = (startNum + endNum) / 2;
var turnoverRate = 0;
if (averageEmployees > 0) {
turnoverRate = (separations / averageEmployees) * 100;
}
// Display Results
document.getElementById('retentionResult').innerHTML = retentionRate.toFixed(2) + "%";
document.getElementById('turnoverResult').innerHTML = turnoverRate.toFixed(2) + "%";
document.getElementById('separationsResult').innerHTML = separations;
document.getElementById('retainedResult').innerHTML = retainedCount;
resultsDiv.style.display = 'block';
}
How to Calculate Annual Employee Retention Rate
Calculating your employee retention rate is one of the most critical functions for HR departments and business leaders. It measures the percentage of employees who remained with your company over a specific period, typically a year. A high retention rate often indicates high morale, competitive compensation, and strong company culture, while a low rate can signal underlying issues.
The Retention Rate Formula
While there are several ways to look at workforce stability, the standard formula for calculating employee retention focuses strictly on the personnel who were already employed at the start of the period and stayed throughout. It excludes new hires to ensure you are measuring the longevity of your existing workforce.
The Formula:
Retention Rate % = ((Total Employees at End – New Hires) / Total Employees at Start) x 100
Step-by-Step Calculation Guide
To use this calculator effectively, you need three specific data points found in your HRIS or payroll records:
- Start Count: The number of employees on the payroll on the very first day of the measurement period (e.g., January 1st).
- End Count: The number of employees on the payroll on the last day of the measurement period (e.g., December 31st).
- New Hires: The total number of new employees onboarding during that specific timeframe.
Example: If you started the year with 100 employees, ended with 105, and hired 15 new people during the year:
- Subtract New Hires from End Count: 105 – 15 = 90 (This represents the original staff who stayed).
- Divide by Start Count: 90 / 100 = 0.90.
- Multiply by 100: 90% Retention Rate.
Retention vs. Turnover
It is important not to confuse retention with turnover, although they are related. Retention measures the stability of your existing workforce. Turnover measures the rate at which employees leave and are replaced.
Our calculator provides both metrics. A high retention rate (above 90%) is generally excellent, whereas a turnover rate should ideally be kept low, though "healthy" turnover varies significantly by industry (e.g., retail and hospitality typically have higher turnover than finance or engineering).
Why This Metric Matters
Tracking annual retention helps organizations quantify the hidden costs of losing talent. These costs include recruitment fees, onboarding time, lost productivity, and the impact on team morale. By monitoring this rate annually, HR leaders can assess the effectiveness of engagement initiatives, compensation adjustments, and management training programs.