Team and HR
Employee retention
The effort to keep good team members in their jobs over time, supported by factors such as workplace culture, work-life balance, fair pay and chances to grow.
Employee retention means keeping staff over time. ADA Health Policy Institute research on dental workforce shortages lists factors associated with retention: work-life balance, positive workplace culture and the ability to help patients. It also lists factors linked to attrition, such as negative culture, insufficient pay, lack of growth opportunity and feeling overworked.
Retention affects patient continuity, training costs and team morale. It relates to staff turnover, the rate at which people leave, and to onboarding, where the first weeks shape later choices.
Every office has its own mix of causes. The research reports patterns across many practices, not a recipe for one. This entry is a general definition, not advice.