Stay Interviews

A stay interview is a structured one-on-one conversation aimed at understanding what keeps employees engaged in their role and what might prompt them to leave. Unlike an exit interview, which focuses on why an employee is leaving, a stay interview is a proactive approach to employee retention and building trust between the employee and management.

What is the Purpose of a Stay Interview?

In the competition for top talent, companies can’t afford to wait until an employee resigns to understand their reasons for leaving. The purpose of conducting stay interviews is to:

• Identify what employees enjoy about their job and workplace.
• Uncover potential concerns or challenges before they lead to turnover.
• Strengthen employee engagement and satisfaction.
• Gather insights to improve workplace policies, culture, and leadership.

Who Should You Interview?

Your most tenured, high-performing employees should be the primary focus of your stay interviews. They have been with your company the longest and clearly there are reasons they have stayed. People stay for different reasons so to prevent employees from walking out the door, you need to learn what makes your company valuable to each individual.

What Questions Should You Ask?

Stay interviews are proactive conversations with current employees to gather feedback that can shape retention strategies and improve the overall employee experience. Some common questions to ask include:

• What do you enjoy most about your job?
• What keeps you motivated to stay with the company?
• What aspects of your job frustrate you or do you dislike?
• What changes would improve your work experience?
• Do you feel recognized and valued for your contributions?
• How would you rate your work-life balance? How could it be improved?
• What does your dream job look like?
• What did you love about a previous job that you no longer have?

Who Should Conduct the Interviews?

Stay interviews are often conducted by an employee’s direct manager, as they have direct influence over the employee’s daily experience and work environment. However, often HR professionals or a neutral third party may conduct them to ensure candid feedback.

• Direct Managers – Best for building trust, strengthening relationships, and addressing concerns directly.
• HR Professionals – Useful for gathering unbiased insights and identifying company-wide trends.
• External Consultants – Can provide a neutral perspective and encourage honest feedback, especially in organizations with trust or culture concerns.

How Cost-Effective are Stay Interviews?

Since stay interviews require only the time for a conversation, they offer a cost-effective way to enhance the workplace. This is especially true when compared to the expenses of recruiting and hiring new talent or the productivity loss that comes with employee turnover due to job dissatisfaction.

What Should You Do with the Feedback?

Stay interview feedback is valuable for improving employee retention and engagement. Here’s how to effectively use it:

• Analyze the feedback looking for common themes, identifying strengths that keep employees engaged, and pinpoint recurring concerns.
• Take action by addressing concerns proactively, reinforce positive aspects that employees appreciate, and implementing quick wins to show responsiveness.
• Keep employees updated on changes being made based on their feedback.
• Integrate feedback into your HR strategy by adjusting policies, benefits, or career development programs as needed.
• Train managers on leadership practices to enhance employee satisfaction.
• Make this a regular process by conducting stay interviews regularly, not just a one-time event.

Conducting stay interviews is a powerful way to boost employee engagement and retention. Getting honest, actionable feedback from these interviews requires the right approach. By bringing in an experienced outside partner like Blueprint HRM, you ensure a structured, unbiased process that encourages open dialogue and leads to real improvements. Our team specializes in conducting stay interviews, analyzing feedback, and helping organizations implement meaningful changes that keep top talent engaged. Let Blueprint HRM help you turn insights into action— contact Blueprint HRM today to get started!